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Stefanos Tsitsipas keeps up 100% record to reach Australian Open semi-finals

Stefanos Tsitsipas maintained his unbeaten record in grand slam quarter-finals, while Karen Khachanov also progressed to the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday.

Third seed Tsitsipas made it six from six in the last eight at majors with a 6-3 7-6 6-4 victory over 21-year-old Jiri Lehecka, who had never won a grand slam match before arriving in Australia.

The young Czech had defeated Cameron Norrie and Felix Auger-Aliassime to make the last eight but was broken in his first service game and, although he put on a creditable display, it was not enough to take a set from Tsitsipas.

The Greek, who along with Novak Djokovic still has a chance of finishing the tournament as the world number one, will take on Karen Khachanov in the semi-finals on Friday.

Earlier, Khachanov reached a second consecutive slam semi-final after Sebastian Korda retired with a wrist injury when trailing 7-6 6-3 3-0.

The 22-year-old American has been one of the stories of the tournament, defeating Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz to reach a first slam quarter-final 25 years after his father Petr lifted the trophy.

But he took a medical time-out after five games of the second set to have his wrist taped and called it quits after losing the next seven games.

Khachanov has lagged behind his fellow Russians Medvedev and Andrey Rublev – who will take on Djokovic in the quarter-finals on Wednesday – but went further than both at the US Open and it could be the same story here.

"Daniil was in front of me and Andrey, but still, Andrey was top 10," said Khachanov. "I was top top At one point I think I dropped to 25 or in 2021, that was the moment where I had some personal issues and tougher times, let's say.

"Not everything was going as smooth but I always believe in myself and my abilities and what I need to do in order to be at my best.

"So I think with my team, we are on the right direction and I think this kind of competition in a positive way between us helps us to get better."

Two-time former champion Victoria Azarenka ended a 10-year wait to return to the semi-finals in Melboiurne with a straight-sets victory over Jessica Pegula.

Azarenka lifted her only two grand slam singles titles at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013 and had never been beyond the last eight since.

But the 33-year-old produced a fine display to defeat third seed Pegula, who was the highest-ranked player left, 6-4 6-1 and will take on Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the last four.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina eased into the semi-finals with a straight-sets victory over Jelena Ostapenko.

As expected between two of the biggest hitters on the women's tour, this was first-strike tennis, but Rybakina was the steadier in a 6-2 6-4 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

Both had caused upsets in the previous round, Rybakina defeating world number one Iga Swiatek and Ostapenko powering past Coco Gauff.

The Latvian, French Open champion in 2017, was through to her first grand slam quarter-final for nearly five years, but produced too many errors to put any real pressure on Rybakina.


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