A HUGE day of action at Melbourne Park resulted in the semi-finalists being decided for the two ATP 250 events, the Great Ocean Road Open and the Murray River Open.

A blockbuster semi-final between Karen Khachanov and Jannik Sinner awaits in the Great Ocean Road Open. The pair of top four seeds in the tournament booked their spots in the final four after winning their respective quarter finals. Khachanov had his work cut out for himself against Dutchman, Botic Van de Zandschulp 6-7 7-5 6-3, while Sinner toppled seventh seed Miomir Kecmanovic in straight sets, 7-6 6-4. The first set tiebreaker went to 12-10 before the young Italian could emerge victorious, but managed to get the job done.

Earlier in the day, Khachanov knocked out South African Kevin Anderson in straight sets, while Sinner took out Aljaz Bedene in equally tight circumstances. Kecmanovic had made the semis after a win over Salvatore Caruso, while Van de Zandschup was a surprise quarter finalist following an upset two-tiebreaker win over sixth seed American, Reilly Opelka.

In the other half of the draw, Stefano Travaglia and Thiago Monteiro will eye off their maiden ATP Tour title in the semi-finals. Travaglia upset third seed Hubert Hurkacz in three sets, 3-6 6-3 7-5, following an earlier win over danger man Alexander Bublik. Monteiro took out the last Australian hope in Jordan Thompson, as well as Spanish young gun Carlos Alcarez earlier in the day.

With just two seeds remaining in the draw, the winner of the Khachanov and Sinner match will go in as heavy favourites for the final tomorrow.

GREAT OCEAN ROAD OPEN QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:

[2] Karen Khachanov (RUS) defeated Botic Van de Zandschulp (NED) 6-7 7-5 6-3
Stefano Travaglia (ITA) defeated [3] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 3-6 6-3 7-5
[4] Jannik Sinner (ITA) defeated [7] Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 7-6 6-4
Thiago Monteiro (BRA) defeated [11] Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-4 6-4

A couple of retirements marred the Murray River Open quarter finals after players were forced to double up from the missing day’s play on Thursday. Instead Friday provided spectators with plenty of action and the semi-finalists were decided. Making it all the more intriguing is the fact that three of the four semi-finalists are yet to win an ATP Tour title.

The favourite to take home the title of the remaining players is rising star, Felix Auger-Aliassime who made it into the semis after winning in a tiebreaker against Jiri Vesely before the Czech retired at the the end of the set. Earlier, Auger-Aliassime took care of Egor Gerasimov in three sets, while Vseley had knocked off Ricardas Berankis.

Auger-Aliassime will now take on Corentin Moutet in the semi-finals, with neither player having won a title to their name. The 21-year-old Frenchman is a year older than his Canadian opponent, but much younger than second seed Bulgarian, Grigor Dimitrov who he toppled in the quarter finals. Winning 7-5 6-2, Moutet had a memorable victory which followed on from his victory over James Duckworth earlier in the day.

Unfortunately the quick turnaround between matches was always going to wreak havoc on player recovery, and those eyeing off a deep Australian Open such as 34-year-old Stan Wawrinka will always err on the side of caution. The Swiss veteran pulled out of his quarter final with Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, having struggled past Alex Bolt in three tight sets. Chardy knocked off sixth seed American, Taylor Fritz in straight sets.

In the last quarter final, eighth seeded Brit Daniel Evans won through in straight sets, 7-5 7-6 over fourth seed Borna Coric. Following a straightforward win over Nick Kyrgios earlier in the day, Coric was in good form, but it was Evans who got the better of him and is now eyeing off his maiden title on Tour, the oldest of the remaining players left in the draw.

MURRAY RIVER OPEN QUARTER FINALS:

Corentin Moutet (FRA) defeated [2] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 7-5 6-2
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) defeated [1] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) W/O
[3] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) defeated Jiri Vesely (CZE) 7-6 0-0 RET
[8] Daniel Evans (GBR) defeated Borna Coric (CRO) 7-5 7-6

Picture credit: Tennis Australia/ Natasha Morello