Key posts
Around the courts
Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara are through to the women’s doubles semi-finals after defeating Anna Kalinskaya and Caroline Dolehide in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.
Meanwhile, Andreas Mies and John Peers trail Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the men’s doubles quarter-finals 3-6, 4-3.
And in the women’s doubles quarterfinals Marta Kostyuk and Elena-Gabriela Ruse lead Storm Hunter and Elise Mertens 7-6 (8-6), 2-3.
Sabalenka wins first set
After just over an hour, Aryna Sabalenka has claimed the first set over Donna Vekic 6-3.
Aryna SabalenkaCredit:Getty
There were some interesting moments in the opening set, with neither player really putting the game on their terms.
However, Sabalenka pushed Vekic more around the court and had six aces to Vekic’s three, yet 21 unforced errors to her opponent’s 16.
Sabalenka and Vekic in tight contest
Aryna Sabalenka and Donna Vekic are three games each in the first set.
Meanwhile, Diede De Groot defeated Momoko Ohtani in the women’s wheelchair quarter-finals 6-4, 6-0 and Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara lead Anna Kalinskaya and Caroline Dolehide in the women’s doubles quarter-finals 6-3, 4-3.
Sabalenka leads Vekic
After just over twenty minutes, title favourite Aryna Sabalenka leads Donna Vekic two games to one in the opening set.
Sabalenka v Vekic 2-1
‘A dream come true’: Linette wins through to semi-finals
By Courtney Walsh
It was anticipated prior to this Australian Open that a Polish star would be contending for the crown in the latter stages of the women’s singles.
But only a true believer would have predicted that Magda Linette, and not world No.1 Iga Swiatek, would be the Pole vying for the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup by the semi-finals.
Magda Linette takes in her win.Credit:AP
The right-hander had compiled a decent but scarcely attention-grabbing career until this Australian Open. But after continuing her stunning run at Melbourne Park with a 6-3, 7-5 triumph over former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday, she is into a maiden grand slam semi-final.
Linette held her nerve superbly in the biggest match of her career, working her rival around the court to draw regular errors in a quarter-final lasting one hour and 27 minutes.
Sabalenka and Vekic to battle for semi-final spot
Women’s title favourite Aryna Sabalenka and Donna Vekic have arrived on Rod Laver Arena, ready to fight it out for a spot in the semi-finals.
Belarus’ Sabalenka, ranked fifth in the world, has reached three semi-finals in her past five major appearances, while Croatia’s Vekic’s best performance at a grand slam is reaching the US Open quarter-finals in 2019.
The winner will face Magda Linette, who defeated Karolina Pliskova in straight sets earlier in the day.
Linette through to the semi-finals
In Magda Linette’s maiden grand slam quarter-final appearance, she defeated former world No.1 Karolina Pliskova in straight sets 6-3, 7-5 and will now head to her first semi-final.
“I’m so emotional, I can’t really believe it,” Linette said post-win. “It’s a dream come true…I’m super grateful and happy.”
Madga LinetteCredit:AP
After dropping the first set, Pliskova increased the intensity in the second and started to play more aggressively – but Linette held her composure.
Pliskova had 36 unforced errors to 16.
Linette will next face either Aryna Sabalenka and Donna Vekic in the semi-finals, who battle it out next on Rod Laver Arena.
Linette to serve for a spot in semis
Magda Linette will serve for a spot in the semi-finals, as she leads Karolina Pliskova six games to five in the second set.
She won the first set 6-3.
Linette v Pliskova 6-3, 6-5
