Reuters: Johanna Konta ground down Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai 6-4 6-1 at the Australian Open on Wednesday to become the first British woman to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam in over 30 years.
The 47th-ranked Konta will seek to continue her fairytale run on Thursday when she meets German seventh seed Angelique Kerber for a place in the title-decider.
Konta’s rise has been little short of extraordinary, with her last trip to Melbourne Park cut short with a humbling exit at qualifying when ranked 147th in the world.
Twelve months on, the Sydney-born 24-year-old has emulated Eugenie Bouchard’s breathtaking run at the 2014 tournament by reaching the last four on her main draw debut at Melbourne Park.
The last British woman to make a grand slam semi-final was Jo Durie at the 1983 U.S. Open, while the last finalist was the 1977 Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade.
Britain’s Johanna Konta celebrates winning the first set during her quarter-final match against China’s Zhang Shuai at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, 27 January
Konta will bid to become the first British woman to reach the Australian Open final since Wade’s run to the 1972 title.
Although Konta has reached lofty heights for British tennis, the quarter-final against Zhang failed to soar quite so high.
Both players battled nerves and the Chinese qualifier came into the match fatigued after playing seven straight matches.
As the first woman qualifier to reach the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park in nearly three decades, Zhang was never going to concede lightly.
She saved five set points in an epic game before Konta ended the argument with a pair of booming first serves.
The pair traded service breaks early in the second set before Konta roared to a 5-1 lead.
Although struggling to muster the energy, Zhang battled to the end, saving two match points.
But she was powerless to save the third when Konta hammered a shot into an obliging net-cord that gave the Chinese no chance.
“Yeah, it was a bit anti-climactic, wasn’t it?” Konta laughed. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change it.”
With her semi-finals appearance set to raise British hopes of a first female grand slam champion in nearly 40 years, Konta said she was not feeling any pressure.
“No, but the U.K. is a number of thousands of miles away and a completely different time zone, which in this case it might be quite nice.”
Murray subdues Ferrer to continue British charge
Britain’s Andy Murray reacts during his quarter-final match against Spain’s David Ferrer at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 27, 2016. REUTERS
Reuters: Andy Murray continued Britain’s Australian Open success when he overcame David Ferrer 6-3 6-7(5) 6-2 6-3 in a gruelling tussle to reach the semi-finals for the sixth time in seven years on Wednesday.
The world number two was forced to scrap for almost every point but finally subdued the indefatigable Spanish eighth seed after three hours and 20 minutes of punishing baseline tennis on Rod Laver Arena.
With compatriot Johanna Konta having reached the last four in the women’s draw earlier on Wednesday, Britain has two representatives in the semi-finals of a grand slam for the first time since 1977.
Murray’s brother Jamie has also reached the last four of the men’s doubles with Brazilian Bruno Soares.
Murray will next face Milos Raonic or Gael Monfils as he bids to reach a fifth Australian Open final.
The 28-year-old has lost on all four of his previous visits to the Melbourne Park final but will certainly be battle-hardened for his assault on the title this year.
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Raonic storms past Monfils into last four at Melbourne
Canada’s Milos Raonic celebrates after winning his quarter-final match against France’s Gael Monfils at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, 27 January. REUTERS
Reuters: A clinical Milos Raonic stormed past Gael Monfils 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old, unbeaten this year, negated the Frenchman’s mobility with his powerful serve and fierce forehands to become the first Canadian man to reach the last four at Melbourne Park.
The 13th seed, a former semi-finalist at Wimbledon, secured a single break to win the first and third sets, and another in the fourth was enough for victory.
Raonic, who upset fourth seed Stan Wawrinka in the fourth round, hit his 47th winner after two hours and 17 minutes to set up a last four meeting with British second seed Andy Murray on Friday.
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Kerber thwarts Azarenka comeback to reach semi-finals
Reuters: Angelique Kerber picked the perfect time to earn her first win over Victoria Azarenka, outgunning the big-hitting Belarusian 6-3 7-5 on Wednesday to advance to her first Australian Open semi-final.
Kerber faced three set points trailing 5-2 in the second, and two more at 5-4, but turned the set in her favour by cutting loose and swinging for the fences, storming home to clinch the match and setting up a semi-final against Briton Johanna Konta.
“I played very well. I mean, I was playing my game from the first point,” the smiling German told reporters. “When I was down 2-5, I was actually playing more aggressive.
“I think I won the match. She didn’t lose it; I actually won it.”
Kerber, seeded seventh and a semi-finalist at the 2011 U.S. Open and Wimbledon in 2012, was not the favourite against the 14th  seeded Azarenka, who had won their six previous meetings including the Brisbane International final in the leadup to Melbourne Park.
While Kerber has struggled at times in the tournament, saving a match point in her first round clash against Misaki Doi, Azarenka bulldozed her way through the draw and looked to be back at the level that netted her Melbourne Park titles in 2012 and 2013.
But the Belarusian, who had lost just 11 games in her previous four matches, found herself 4-0 down in the first set, which Kerber went on to take in 48 minutes.
Azarenka reduced the error count and mounted a comeback that gave her the chance to serve out the second set at 5-2, but Kerber hit back, saving three set points and then two more in the 10th game to level it at 5-5.
Kerber kept up the pressure, drilling the lines and smacking winners from every angle before clinching the match in one hour, 45 minutes.
The German said she had visited Steffi Graf in Las Vegas last year to seek some advice from the 22-times grand slam champion and was inspired by her compatriot.
“Steffi is a champion. She won everything. She’s a great person as well. I was able to practice with her a few days just before Indian Wells last year,” Kerber said.
“But she taught me actually that I’m on a good way and try to believe in myself.”
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