Australian Open 2016 Schedule: Wednesday Replay TV Coverage, Live Stream Guide
History was made at the 2016 Australian Open on Wednesday, as Johanna Konta became the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final in more than 30 years.
The 24-year-old saw off qualifier Shuai Zhang in her last-eight clash at the Rod Laver Arena, winning 6-4, 6-1 to end a sobering run for British women, per BBC Sport's Russell Fuller:
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She will meet Germany's Angelique Kerber in the last four after she beat Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-5, her first win in seven attempts over the Belarusian, per Sports Illustrated.
Konta's fellow Brit, Andy Murray, had to battle hard to book his place in the men's semi-finals for a sixth time in Melbourne, but he eventually came through 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3 against David Ferrer.
Milos Raonic continued his excellent 2016 form to see off Gael Monfils in four sets, and the Canadian will now meet Murray on Friday for a place in the final.
Here is all the information on how to catch up with an exciting day of action at the Australian Open.
Replay Info for Wednesday’s Draw (Day 10, Quarter-finals)
Watch: ESPN (U.S. only)
Saturday Replay Coverage: Tennis Channel from 7 a.m. ET to 9 a.m. ET and 1 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET; ESPN2 from 9 a.m. ET to noon ET
Full Schedule: AusOpen.com
Women's Semi-final Lineup Complete
Konta made a rapid start to her last-eight clash, serving very well and breaking twice to take a comfortable 5-2 first-set lead over China's Zhang.
However, the world No. 133 stayed in the set, as she got a break for 5-3 and managed to force the British No. 1 to serve again for a 1-0 lead.
This time, Konta produced some big serves and wrestled back the momentum to see out the set in 48 minutes.
The 27-year-old tired in the second set, and Konta took the match fairly convincingly in the end.
Zhang had never before made it beyond the first round of a Grand Slam, and in Melbourne, the quarter-finals were the end of the road for her brilliant campaign.
Konta was also in uncharted territory in the last eight of a Grand Slam, but she now marches on to face Kerber, to her obvious delight, per the Australian Open:
The world No. 47 was the favourite against Zhang, but she will most certainly be the underdog in the semi-final against seventh-seeded Kerber.
The German looked impressive against Azarenka, as she won 6-3, 7-5, saving five set points at 5-2 down in the second before pulling off an excellent turnaround.
Thus, the stage is set for the last four—the other semi-final sees Serena Williams take on Agnieszka Radwanska—with Saturday's final the main aim for the remaining quartet.
Murray Marches On
Second seed Murray was made to work by Ferrer but eventually came through his quarter-final in three hours and 20 minutes.
He took the first set with a single break and fought back from 4-1 down in the second to earn break points at 4-4, which could have seen him power to a straight-sets win.
However, in typical Ferrer fashion, he battled back and forced a tiebreak, which he then won to level the match.
The roof on Rod Laver was brought across with Murray a break up in the third set as the weather closed in, per SI Tennis:
However, that did not interrupt the Scot's momentum, and he claimed the third set before going a break up in the fourth.
Ferrer forced himself back to parity, but a missed smash from the Spaniard in the sixth game proved his downfall, as Murray took advantage once again and served out the match.
With Murray's brother, Jamie, having reached the doubles semi-finals on Tuesday, the world No. 2's victory secured an Open era record for the pair, per MailOnline's Stuart Fraser:
The two-time Grand Slam champion is surely the slight favourite to beat Raonic in the last four, but it is set to be a mighty tough encounter, as the 13th seed is in fine form.
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