Australian Open 2020: Anett Kontaveit’s journey from surgery to quarter-final

It’s been a remarkable journey from surgery in New York just over four months ago to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for Anett Kontaveit - and the Estonian star is not finished yet.

Anett Kontaveit will face Simona Halep in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

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Less than 150 days ago, Anett Kontaveit was hospitalised.

Surgery was required to remove what became an abscess, sidelining her for months.

On Wednesday, she becomes the first Estonian to play in the last eight of the Australian Open.

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Anett Kontaveit is the first Estonian to make the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.

Kontaveit’s coach Nigel Sears said the 24-year-old’s recovery – which culminates in her clash with Simona Halep and her first grand slam quarter-final – had been a lengthy journey.

“She was playing good tennis at the US Open,” he said.

“She got an internal infection that got out of control very quickly. I suddenly had a phone call early in the morning that she was on her way to hospital, she ended up being hospitalised for a week in New York and then had surgery for a procedure to remove an abscess internally.

“She couldn’t do anything for three or four months, lost quite a lot of weight. It was hugely disappointing.

“So you watch the ranking go from top 20, she’s 31 at the moment. That’s OK, because at the end of this year it will be good news when she goes back out to Asia.”

Sears, who is also Andy Murray’s father-in-law, was felled with his own illness at Melbourne Park four years ago with a severe bout of food poisoning caused by sushi.

Simona Halep will provide a stern test for Anett Kontaveit. Picture: AAP

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He joked that he would likely not call on Murray – who reached the final of the Australian Open five times for no wins – should his Estonian charge make Saturday’s final.

“I might ask him, tell us exactly what not to do if she makes the final,” he quipped.

“(There are) no major weaknesses in (Halep’s) game.

“Certainly knows how to win big. A lot of challenges, but at the same time, again, I see that as a nicer match to play for Anett, and Anett can again be the dangerous one.”

Giant-killer eyes next scalp

The giant-killer of this year’s Open says she will need to be at her best to make her first grand slam semi-final.

Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is riding high after defeating world No.2 Karolina Pliskova and 17th seed Angelique Kerber. On Wednesday she faces two-time grand slam winner Garbine Muguruza with a spot in the final four on offer.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has been in impressive form.

“The deeper you go in the tournament, the tougher it gets and the more champions you play,” Pavlyuchenkova said.

“I got to be there playing my best tennis and be ready from the first point.”

It will be the pair’s first meeting in almost two years.

Spain’s Muguruza holds a 4-1 record over her older opponent.

“Of course I know how she plays and I know her,” Pavlyuchenkova said.

“She’s a very good player and a very aggressive player.”

Originally published as Australian Open 2020: Anett Kontaveit’s journey from surgery to quarter-final