Australian Open day nine

MELBOURNE : Highlights of the ninth day of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Tuesday:

* Barty breezes past Pegula into Australian Open semis

World number one Ash Barty nL1N2U50LL is within two victories of winning her home Grand Slam after another dominant display.

The 25-year-old reached the semi-finals at Melbourne Park for the second time in three years after blitzing American Jessica Pegula 6-2 6-0 in just over an hour.

* Nadal survives Shapovalov scare to keep record bid intact

Rafa Nadal nL1N2U50FL moved within two wins of a record 21st Grand Slam title by clinching a five-set thriller against Denis Shapovalov to reach the Australian Open semi-finals for a seventh time.

On a steamy afternoon at Rod Laver Arena, Nadal suffered a huge scare as Shapovalov roared back from two sets down but the Spanish warrior found another gear in the decider to prevail 6-3 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3.

* Comeback kid Keys storms into Australian Open semi-finals

Madison Keys nL1N2U505Q booked her first Grand Slam semi-final spot in four years with a 6-3 6-2 upset of Barbora Krejcikova at the Australian Open.

Keys' renaissance after a dismal 2021 season has lit up Melbourne Park this year and at a baking hot Rod Laver Arena fourth seed Krejcikova became another casualty of the American's new-found confidence and traditional firepower.

* Berrettini survives Monfils comeback to set up semis date with Nadal

Seventh seed Matteo Berrettini nL1N2U5157 found a higher gear in the face of a heroic fightback from France's Gael Monfils to script a 6-4 6-4 3-6 3-6 6-2 win on Tuesday and become the first Italian man to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.

The match was a repeat of the quarter-final clash from the 2019 U.S. Open, which Berrettini won in a final-set