Australian Open 2018: Results, Highlights, Thursday Scores Recap from Melbourne

Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki will contest the final of the 2018 Australian Open after they won their semi-finals on Thursday.

Halep overcame Angelique Kerber in a breathless three-set contest, winning 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 after two hours and 20 minutes. Earlier, No. 2 seed Wozniacki saw off Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-6 (2).

The first place in the men's final was also be up for grabs on Thursday, with Marin Cilic denying Kyle Edmund the chance to play in his first Grand Slam final with a 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-2 win.

Recap

Halep took the first set in just 25 minutes as she raced to a 5-0 lead, but it could have been over even quicker had Kerber not regained some composure at the end, per Ben Rothenberg of the New York Times:

The German's late resistance proved invaluable in the second set, when she found herself a break down and on the verge of going out.

Kerber's resilience saw her break back immediately—despite Halep being a point away from a 4-1 lead—and she saved two break points on the way to levelling the score at 4-4. She then broke again when the Romanian sent a shot long, before serving out the set to force a decider.

The pair exchanged breaks to kick off the third set, before Halep took command with another as she moved within one game of the final.

Once more, Kerber resisted in spectacular fashion, per Eurosport UK:

The No. 21 seed continued to amaze as she saved two match points in the following game, before breaking Halep to lead the contest.

It was then the world No. 1's turn to save two match points, firing home a forehand winner after Kerber sent a backhand long. Christopher Clarey of the New York Times made note of a remarkable stat:

Kerber saved her third match point at 8-7 but hit a forehand over the line on her fourth to allow Halep to seal her place in the final.

She'll now play Wozniacki, whose semi-final was somewhat more straightforward although not without drama.

The Dane claimed the first set in relative comfort and took a 5-4 lead in the second, but two double-faults allowed Mertens to break back.

Wozniacki survived two set points to force a tiebreaker, where she proved a cut above the Belgian. She expressed her delight at progressing, per the Open's official Twitter account:

Whoever emerges on top in Saturday's final will enjoy their maiden Grand Slam win, and the world No. 1 ranking to boot.

Wozniacki has won four of their six meetings, but with both players producing some exceptional tennis, the final could go either way.

In the men's semi-final, Cilic broke Edmund twice apiece in the first and third sets as he eased through a relatively comfortable match.

There was little to separate the pair in the second until the tiebreaker, but Cilic came out on top with a backhand down the line having never been particularly under threat.

Two-time Australian Open finalist Pat Cash praised both players:

Cilic will await the winner of Roger Federer's clash with Hyeon Chung on Friday. Should he face the former, he'll have the chance to avenge his defeat in the 2017 Wimbledon final.