RAFA NADAL won his quarter-final match-up with Dennis Shapopalov in five sets to reach the last four of the Australian Open.
Meanwhile Novak Djokovic has received a boost in his bid to compete at the French Open.
And Martina Navratilova has condemned Tennis Australia for banning t-shirts referencing the alleged disappearance of Peng Shuai.
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- Tristan Barclay
More from Barty
Barty added: "I have grown as a person, as a player, I am more complete tennis player, have a couple of years' more experience – it is a credit to my team.
"They have done so much work behind the scenes to make me the best version of myself. It has been a lot of fun so far.
"It's been amazing, this isn't Melbourne, this is Brisbane weather! Plenty of heat throughout the day. Night sessions are special. I love playing at the Australian Open, it doesn't matter what time."
- Tristan Barclay
Barty speaks
Ash Barty had this to say after racing through her quarter-final against Jessica Pegula on Tuesday: "That was solid, I had a lot of fun, I was able to serve and find a lot of forehands in the centre of the court.
"I was happy to take the game on, be aggressive on my forehand, not worry if I miss a couple.
"Jess is an incredible person, she is a brilliant girl and I love to test myself against her.
"She has had an exceptional couple of years and deserves to be in these later end of Slams. She has a few more to come, for sure."
- Tristan Barclay
Home hope goes through
World No.1 and Aussie local Ash Barty made short work of her quarter-final opponent Jessica Pegula.
The 25-year-old swept into the semis with a 6-2, 6-0 victory at Rod Laver Arena.
The Queenslander is yet to win her home Slam, making the last-four back in 2020.
But she's in stunning form this year and looking a red hot favourite to break her duck Down Under.
- Tristan Barclay
That winning feeling
Rafa Nadal threw his arms wide and tilted his head back as he beamed a massive grin on Rod Laver Arena.
The Spanish legend reached the seventh Australian Open semi-final of his career when he saw off Canada's youngster Denis Shapovalov.
The Aussie Open's official Twitter account captured the footage of that winning feeling as the 35-year-old celebrated victory Down Under.
- Justin Lawrence
Nadal left depleted after win
Nadal doesn't know how he managed to see off Denis Shapovalov to reach the semi-finals.
And he admitted that their four-hour-long battle left him depleted.
When asked how he managed to pull of his epic win, Nadal said: “I don’t know honestly.
“I’m completely destroyed after that.
“I was a little bit lucky at the beginning of the fifth set.
“At the beginning of the match I was playing great, then I know how difficult it is to play against a player like Denis [Shapovalov].
“He’s very talented, very aggressive, he was serving huge, especially the second serve.
“For me it’s amazing honestly to be in the semi-finals.”
- Justin Lawrence
Nadal reaches semi-finals
Rafael Nadal has managed to reach the sem-final of the Australian Open for the seventh time.
It took Nadal four hours to see off Denis Shapovalov to the delight of fans at the Rod Laver Arena.
In the end, Nadal won the quarter-final clash 6-3 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3.
- Justin Lawrence
Krygios cruises into doubles semi-finals
Nick Kygrios' journey in the singles at the Australian Open may have come to an end but he's still going strong in the doubles.
Along with partner Thanasi Kokkinakis, Krygios cruised into the doubles semi-finals with a rousing 7-5 3-6 6-3 victory over Tim Puetz and Michael Venus at the raucous Kia Arena.
Krygios and Kokkinakis – dubbed the 'Special K's' – will now face third seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in their bid to reach the final.
- sstreet
Tournament chief backs Novak return
Australian Open director Craig Tiley believes deported world No 1 Novak Djokovic will be allowed to play in next year’s tournament.
Unvaccinated Serb Djokovic could be banned for three years after his visa was cancelled.
But Tiley reckons the nine-time Oz Open king will try to return – and be accepted.
He said: “Yes. Obviously, he’s got to play out this year, but that will be his intention.
“At the end of the day, he’s the no 1 player in the world and he really loves the Australian Open.”
- sstreet
Australian Open slammed for shirt ban
Martina Navratilova has slammed Australian Open chiefs for their ‘pathetic’ ban on T-shirts sporting the wording, ‘Where is Peng Shaui?’.
The tennis legend, 65, is the latest star to cause waves over the mysterious disappearance of Chinese tennis ace Peng, 36.
It comes after spectators at Melbourne Park were told to remove tops supporting the former world No 14 before entering the grounds on Friday.
Navratilova, who won 18 singles titles, tweeted: “That’s just pathetic. The WTA stands pretty much alone on this!!!”
Tennis Australia has defended its stance by saying the tournament does not allow political statements.
It said in a statement: “Under our ticket conditions of entry we don’t allow clothing, banners or signs that are commercial or political.”
- sstreet
All Bart of the plan
Home favourite Ashleigh Barty will be first on at the Rod Laver Arena during the evening session.
She faces America's Jessica Pegula at 7pm local time – 8am in the UK.
The men's quarter-final between Matteo Berrettini and Gael Monfils will follow.
- sstreet
Final four
The winner of Nadal vs Shapovalov will face Matteo Berrettini or Gael Monfils in the French Open semi-final.
Berrettini was beaten by Novak Djokovic in all of his last three Grand Slam appearances, so will fancy his chances with the world number one already deported from Australia.
Monfils has already equalled his best Australian Open finish by reaching the quarter-final, and will equal his best ever Grand Slam finish if he reaches the semi.
- sstreet
Head-to-head
Rafael Nadal has a superior head-to-head record against Denis Shapovalov, winning three times and losing just one.
But two of Nadal's wins were on his favoured surface of clay.
The pair last met at the Masters in Rome a year ago, on clay, with Nadal winning 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
But two years before that, Nadal was 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) winner on an indoor hard court at the Davis Cup finals in Spain.
Shapovalov's only win came at the Masters in Canada in 2017, when he won on an outdoor hard court 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
- sstreet
'It's going to be a tough one'
Rafael Nadal is expecting an epic battle against Denis Shapovalov.
He said: “It's going to be a tough one for me.
"It's a match to try my best, to play at my highest level if I want to have chances to go through.
"Yeah, I'm excited about it.
“I didn't expect to be where I am weeks ago.”
- sstreet
Ibrahimovic backs Djokovic
Novak Djokovic has received support from football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic after being kicked out of Australia.
The former Man Utd star said: “Is it up to me to ask you a question: why are you vaccinated?
Okay, so you do it for health? But getting vaccinated to play in a tennis tournament is not the same thing.
“Anyone who takes a vaccine does so because he believes in it or because he believes it is effective against the disease, but everyone must have their opinion.
"People should not be forced to do this just to go to work.
“I got vaccinated because I think it protects me, not to play football. There are two different situations.”
- sstreet
Djokovic receives Roland Garros boost
Novak Djokovic's chances of playing at the French Open have received a massive boost.
France has unveiled its new vaccine passport law, which sees athletes who are not vaccinated banned from participating entering sporting venues.
However, under the new rules, those who have recovered from Covid within the previous six months receive the same rights as those who are fully vaccinated.
That means Novak Djokovic would be allowed to compete at Roland Garros, which commences on May 22, as a result of his Covid infection on December 16.
- Joshua Mbu
Order of play
If you're staying up for the tennis, here's the schedule!
- Joshua Mbu
Australian Open slammed for shirt ban
Martina Navratilova has slammed Australian Open chiefs for their 'pathetic' ban on T-shirts sporting the wording, 'Where is Peng Shaui?'.
The tennis legend, 65, is the latest star to cause waves over the mysterious disappearance of Chinese tennis ace Peng, 36.
It comes after spectators at Melbourne Park were told to remove tops supporting the former world No 14 before entering the grounds on Friday.
Navratilova, who won 18 singles titles, tweeted: "That’s just pathetic. The WTA stands pretty much alone on this!!!"
Tennis Australia has defended its stance by saying the tournament does not allow political statements.
It said in a statement: "Under our ticket conditions of entry we don't allow clothing, banners or signs that are commercial or political."
- Joshua Mbu
Quarter-final appearances
Rafa Nadal's quarter-final against Denis Shapovalov is his 14th appearance at this stage of the Australian Open.
Credit: MEGA AGENCY - Joshua Mbu
Overnight matchups
At 3AM, Rafa Nadal is scheduled to take on Denis Shapovalov in the quarter-final of the Australian Open.
And later on in the morning Frenchman Gaël Monfils will take on No7 seed Matteo Berrettini.
And in the women's singles, Barbora Krejčíková will face Madison Keys.
No1 seed Ashleigh Barty is also in action against Jessica Pegula.
- Ian Tuckey
Emma: I gave my all
British star Emma Raducanu has no regrets about playing through injury in her second-round exit match at the Australian Open.
Speaking on her decision, Raducanu said: “Once I stepped out on the court I’d made my decision.
“I had the option to withdraw before the match but after everything, the Covid, making it out here, fighting back from the loss last week, I wanted to give it all I had.
“I’m on the other side of the world! And I know my hand is going to recover in two days. It’s not long-term. I can build on this pretty quickly and start working on my game again”
- Ian Tuckey
Tournament chief backs Novak return
Australian Open director Craig Tiley believes deported world No 1 Novak Djokovic will be allowed to play in next year’s tournament.
Unvaccinated Serb Djokovic could be banned for three years after his visa was cancelled.
But Tiley reckons the nine-time Oz Open king will try to return – and be accepted.
He said: “Yes. Obviously, he’s got to play out this year, but that will be his intention.
“At the end of the day, he’s the no 1 player in the world and he really loves the Australian Open.”
- Ian Tuckey
Murray tipped to bounce back
Johanna Konta believes losses become ‘easier in time’, and is not worried about Andy Murray’s mentality after his elimination from the Australian Open.
Konta said: “I think it differs in lengths on how hard you take some losses, and how long it takes you to recover from them.
“I think all of them do become easier in time, and obviously it depends how quickly you move on to your next tournament, [and] your next match.
“But he’ll definitely be looking to improve on how he played, and what he was doing out on court, and really trying to be better in the next match he plays”
- Ian Tuckey
Rafa can profit from Novak absence
With Novak Djokovic's rout, Rafa Nadal can instead make it 21 Grand Slam crowns.
And the Spaniard wore down Adrian Mannarino after a 28-minute first set tie-break to reach the quarter-finals 7-6 (16-14) 6-2 6-2.
Mannarino struggled with injury after the tie-break and Nadal now faces Denis Shapovalov, who beat Alexander Zverev.
- Ian Tuckey
Djokovic won't sue us
Tournament chiefs are confident banned Novak Djokovic will NOT use them over his last-minute deportation.
Instead Australian open director Craig Tiley insists the unvaccinated reigning champ brought on his own downfall.
Tiley cited Djokovic's 'contradiction and complexity with information' on border rules.
- Ian Tuckey
Tournament director backs Novak return
Australian Open director Craig Tiley believes deported world No 1 Novak Djokovic will be allowed to play in next year's tournament.
Unvaccinated Serb Djokovic could be banned for three years after his visa was cancelled.
But Tiley reckons the nine-time Oz Open king will try to return – and be accepted.
He said:“Yes. Obviously, he's got to play out this year, but that will be his intention.
"At the end of the day, he's the no 1 player in the world and he really loves the Australian Open."
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