Murray advances to semifinal

Konta, who is making her debut in the main draw at the season’s first major, had a 6-4, 6-1 win over Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai.

Five-time champion Djokovic, after beating No. 7 Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, still has a daunting semifinal match against Roger Federer, who has won four of his 17 Grand Slam titles in Australia.

Konta will meet Angelique Kerber for a place in the final, after the German overcame two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Andy Murray and a much lesser-known British player, Johanna Konta, advanced to the Australian Open semifinals Wednesday, when the action on court had to compete with news about the integrity of the sport.

With Andy Murray also through to the semi-finals you can get 100/1 he duo are both crowned as Australian Open winners this weekend.

He next plays Milos Raonic who is the victor of a four-sets affair against Gael Monfils. “She definitely didn’t make it easy for me”, Konta said.

Johanna Konta, right, of Britain is congratulated by Zhang Shuai of China after winning their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016.

Australian Open quarter-finalist Zhang revealed the support she has received from local Sam Stosur after her exit at Melbourne Park.

The 24-year-old, like any other woman her age, loves listening to the charts and went to see Taylor Swift the Saturday before Wimbledon.

She responded in style, breaking Kerber in the opening game of the second set to seize back the momentum and powering to a 5-2, 40-0 lead. “That’s what I told her at the end of the match”, said Konta, who is ranked 47th.

The pair traded service breaks early in the second set before Konta roared to a 5-1 lead.

Coto, like Konta, refuses to put it down to one thing that saw things “click”, explaining earlier in the Australian Open: “She has also grown in confidence as a human being and a tennis player”.

“I really enjoyed playing in front of you guys”, she said, addressing the spectators on Rod Laver Arena.

“I’m feeling so exhausted”, Zhang said on Wednesday.

Zhang had a giant-killing tournament, upsetting second seed Simona Halep and injured 15th seed Madison Keys on her way to her first Grand Slam quarter-final.

“It was a bit windy at the beginning of the match and he’s extremely accurate with his returns”. “I’m happy. I was able to fight every single point”. “As the day went on and I made a decision to play, I started to focus a little better”.

A stubborn Zhang saved a fourth set point burying a backhand down the line then earned a break point for a shot to level.

Konta raced to 5-2 in the first set, again producing precise, powerful strokes as well as a solid serving game. Zhang’s run however has been something to behold and she is now riding an emotional rollercoaster that has given her the belief required to win big matches.

In the women’s semifinals, Williams will be facing fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat No. 10 Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-3.