JUST four players remain in contention for each of the respective men’s and women’s 2022 Australian Open crowns. After a hectic day that almost featured a couple of upsets, the status quo was upheld and the semi-finalists were confirmed.

In the men’s competition, Stefanos Tsitsipas overpowered Italian young gun Jannik Sinner in straight sets, 6-3 6-4 6-2. Hitting 30 winners to 22 and breaking from all four point break opportunities without facing a break point himself, the Greek fourth seed booked his place in the final four. Off the back of his best performance of the tournament, Tsitsipas will now face world number two and top ranked player at the event, Daniil Medvedev. The Russian had to fight back from a two sets to love deficit to defeat Canadian young gun Felix Auger-Aliassime in five. Though Auger-Aliassime hit 64 winners to 49, the ninth seed also hit 75 unforced errors to 53, including 48 to 28 in the last three sets.

Now the four semi-finalists – including sixth and seventh seeds Rafael Nadal and Matteo Berrettini – will have a rest day before locking horns on Friday for their penultimate clashes.

MEN’S SINGLES – QUARTER FINALS:

[2] Daniil Medvedev (RUS) defeated [9] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 6-7 3-6 7-6 7-5 6-4
[4] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) defeated [11] Jannik Sinner (ITA) 6-3 6-4 6-2

MATCHES TO WATCH TODAY – SEMI-FINALS:

(Rest Day)

Meanwhile in the women’s, the two seeds ended the runs of the veterans who had dared to dream. Earlier in the day, 27th seed Danielle Collins had fought through a tough first set to run away with the contest against Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, 7-6 6-1. The power hitter produced 28 winners to 11 – including six return winners to one – throughout the match – to book her spot in the last four. In the later clash, seventh seed Iga Swiatek had to overcome a first set loss and a nervy second set to put away Estonian Kaia Kanepi in three sets, 4-6 7-6 6-3. The Pole hit four less winners (31-35), but also had 12 less unforced errors (50-62), standing up under pressure late to break crucially in what had been a power contest to that point.

Swiatek and Collins will face off in the second night semi-final, right after world number one Ash Barty, and the sole unseeded women’s player remaining Madison Keys take to the court from 7:30pm tonight.

WOMEN’S SINGLES – QUARTER FINALS:

[7] Iga Swiatek (POL) defeated Kaia Kanepi (EST) 4-6 7-6 6-3
[27] Danielle Collins (USA) defeated Alize Cornet (FRA) 7-6 6-1

MATCHES TO WATCH TODAY – SEMI-FINALS:

[1] Ash Barty (AUS) vs. Madison Keys (USA)
[7] Iga Swiatek (POL) vs.[27] Danielle Collins (USA)