Australian Open day nine: Stefanos Tsitsipas sets up Karen Khachanov semi-final

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Published: Tue 24 Jan 2023, 3:35 PM

Last updated: Tue 24 Jan 2023, 4:09 PM

By Eleanor Crooks, PA Tennis Correspondent, Melbourne

Stefanos Tsitsipas continued to look the most likely challenger to Novak Djokovic as he eased into the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

The third seed defeated young Czech Jiri Lehecka in straight sets and will next meet Russia’s Karen Khachanov, who benefited from Sebastian Korda’s mid-match retirement due to a wrist injury.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina won a power battle against Jelena Ostapenko to set up a last-four clash with Victoria Azarenka, who saw off third seed Jessica Pegula.

Jessica Pegula looks to her box during her defeat by Victoria Azarenka (Aaron Favila/AP) Photo by Aaron Favila

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Women: Jessica Pegula (3), Jelena Ostapenko (17)Men: Sebastian Korda (29)

Novak Djokovic plays Andrey Rublev in the last eight (Aaron Favila/AP) Photo by Aaron Favila

Djokovic will hope his fitness worries are now behind him as he takes on fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night.

The winner of that contest is guaranteed to meet an unseeded American in the last four, with Tommy Paul facing 20-year-old Ben Shelton.

Fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka will hope to keep her title hopes alive when she takes on Donna Vekic, while former world number one Karolina Pliskova plays Magda Linette.