Iga Swiatek edges out Kaia Kanepi in a gruelling quarter-final clash to reach her first Australian Open semi-final

Iga Swiatek is into her first Australian Open semi-final after coming from a set down to beat Kaia Kanepi 4-6 7-6(2) 6-3 in three hours and one minute on Rod Laver Arena. The 2020 French Open champion initially struggled to deal with Kanepi’s power in the stifling hot conditions on court, but she rallied to end the world No 115’s dream run who was playing in her seventh career Grand Slam quarter-final. Ad/> The 20-year-old will face No 27 seed Danielle Collins, who beat Alize Cornet in straight sets earlier in the day, in the last four.

Australian OpenOrder of play, Day 10: Medvedev in top-10 battle, Cornet and Kanepi chase first semis11 HOURS AGO «I'm really glad that I still have my voice because I was shouting so loud,» Swiatek said on court after the topsy-turvy match. «This match was crazy and without the energy of the stadium I think it would've been really hard to win it.» In a nervy start to the first set, Kanepi clung onto her service games fighting off four break points to keep the scores level at 3-3 after half an hour. Then in the seventh game Kanepi seized on her first break point opportunity, hitting a vicious service return winner down the line much to the frustration of Swiatek.

Swiatek was having issues with her second serve, double faulting six times, and she conceded five break points to Kanepi at 5-3 down, but the Pole held on after a 16-minute game. It mattered little in the end though. After 64 minutes, with Swiatek getting increasingly wound up, Kanepi laboured to a one set lead.

The 36-year-old converted her ninth set point with a powerful serve that the No 7 seed could not return. Kanepi started the second set by going a break up. An unreturnable cross-court backhand left Swiatek on the floor and