Madison Keys moved into her first grand slam semi-final since 2018 with a straight-sets win over Barbora Krejcikova at the Australian Open.
Keys overcame Czech fourth seed Krejcikova 6-3 6-2 in hot conditions on Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.
After a hard-fought 50-minute first set, Keys handled the heat the better of the two, closing out a deserved victory.
The win booked Keys a first major semi-final since the 2018 US Open and fifth of her career, with either Ash Barty or Jessica Pegula awaiting her.
After claiming just 11 match victories in 2021, Keys is on a 10-match winning streak, although she was challenged by Krejcikova, particularly early on.
A pair of break points went begging for Keys in the second game before she dug herself out of a 15-40 hole to hold for 2-1.
Keys held after a gruelling 18-point fifth game, one which looked set to be hugely important, after saving four break points.
Another lengthy game followed as opportunities, this time for Keys, came and went before Krejcikova sent a forehand wide to hand the American a 4-2 lead.
Krejcikova took a medical timeout at 2-5, but there was no stopping Keys taking the first set in 50 minutes.
The unforced errors continued to come from Krejcikova and a tame backhand into the net handed Keys a break in the opening game of the second set.
Looking increasingly weary, Krejcikova was broken to love in the third game, although the French Open champion did get one of those breaks back immediately.
Krejcikova continued to fight, but Keys powered away, breaking for 5-2 on her way to the last four.
DATA SLAM: Keys lands top-five win
Keys, the 2017 US Open runner-up, held an 8-20 record against top-five ranked opponents, and 2-6 at grand slams, heading into her meeting with Krejcikova.
The American at least improved that record and deservedly so, getting the better of Krejcikova.
WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS
Keys – 27/21
Krejcikova – 12/28
ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS
Keys – 11/1
Krejcikova – 2/4
BREAK POINTS WON
Keys – 4/12
Krejcikova – 1/8
French Open day 12: Karolina Muchova reaches first grand slam final after upset
Karolina Muchova produced one of the shocks of the French Open by upsetting Aryna Sabalenka to reach her first grand slam final.
Muchova came from 5-2 down in the final set, saving a match point, to win 7-6 (5) 6-7 (5) 7-5 and will take on defending champion Iga Swiatek, who survived her first test, beating Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-2 7-6 (7).
Miyu Kato found Paris redemption in the mixed doubles, winning the title with German Tim Puetz after her disqualification from the women’s doubles.
Picture of the dayStat of the dayTweet of the dayQuote of the dayWho’s up next?The men’s finalists will be decided at Roland Garros on Friday.
The blockbuster match comes first up when world number one Carlos Alcaraz meets Novak Djokovic for only the second time in a generational clash for supremacy in the men’s game.
The second encounter, meanwhile, sees Casper Ruud trying to make a second final in two years against Alexander Zverev, whose semi-final here last year against Rafael Nadal ended with him leaving the court in a wheelchair.
Top seed Dan Evans suffers shock second-round exit at Surbiton
Andy Murray is the only British man left in singles at the Lexus Surbiton Trophy after Dan Evans suffered a shock second-round loss.
Evans was the top seed after taking a late wild card following his early French Open defeat but was toppled 7-5 6-2 by 21-year-old Canadian Gabriel Diallo, ranked more than 100 places below him.
It has been a difficult season so far for 33-year-old Evans, who will hope to fare better in Nottingham next week, where he is the defending champion.
There is a lot more home representation in the women’s draw, where Katie Boulter needs one more victory to overtake Emma Raducanu as British number one.
The eighth seed battled to a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over countrywoman Sonay Kartal to reach the quarter-finals, where she will face Swiss Viktorija Golubic.
Boulter was joined in the last eight by Isabelle Lacy, Katie Swan and Yuriko Miyazaki.
Sixteen-year-old Lacy was given a walkover by American Sachia Vickery and will play Miyazaki, who defeated compatriot Eden Silva, while Swan was 5-3 up on Oceane Dodin when the Frenchwoman retired.
Harriet Dart was close to joining them but lost a tight tussle 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-4 to top seed and last year’s Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria, who next plays Swan.
Shoulder injury rules Jack Draper out of Wimbledon
Jack Draper will miss Wimbledon with the shoulder injury he suffered at the French Open last week.
It is a huge blow to the 21-year-old, whose progress has been disrupted by a series of injuries.
The latest came in practice ahead of his first-round clash at Roland Garros last Monday against Tomas Etcheverry, with Draper forced to serve underarm before calling it a day after only one game of the second set.
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While hugely disappointed that his body had again let him down, Draper was optimistic the problem with his left shoulder would not disrupt his grass-court campaign too much.
However, having had a scan and seen a specialist, Draper has decided to miss the whole of the British summer season.
Draper wrote on Instagram: “It’s clear my shoulder is going to need time and rehab to get back to where it needs to be. My team and I have made the difficult decision to miss the grass court season this year.
“I guess in this sport there are so many ups and downs but this one is tough to take. The only thing for sure is that I will keep persevering.”
He is optimistic he will not need surgery and is hoping to return to the match court in mid to late July.
When he has been fit, Draper has shown he has the potential to be among the best in the world but that has not been nearly as often as he would have liked.
Last season a promising run to the third round of the US Open was ended by a leg injury and, after illness disrupted his pre-season, Draper has already missed large chunks of this year with hip and abdominal problems.
In Paris last week the Londoner said he felt “mentally destroyed”, adding: “I hate being the guy who is injured a lot.”
Draper made his Wimbledon debut in 2021, losing to Novak Djokovic, while last year he pushed Alex De Minaur to four sets in the second round.
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