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Aus Open PHOTOS: Nadal to face Dimitrov in semis; Serena sets up Lucic-Baroni reunion

Last updated on: January 25, 2017 17:18 IST

Images from all the action on Day 9 at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Wednesday

Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his Australian Open quarter-final against Canada's Milos Raonic at Melbourne Park on Wednesday

IMAGE: Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his Australian Open quarter-final against Canada's Milos Raonic at Melbourne Park on Wednesday. Photograph: Thomas Peter/Reuters

Rafael Nadal continued his brilliant revival at the Australian Open to topple Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6(7), 6-4 on Wednesday and reach his first grand slam semi-final in three years.

The Spaniard joined Roger Federer in the last four, keeping alive the prospect of a dream final between the two great rivals who have claimed 31 grand slam titles between them.

Having not reached a major semi-final since his 2014 French Open title, the 30-year-old Nadal produced a match from his halcyon days to fell the third-seeded Canadian in two hours and 44 minutes at a floodlit Rod Laver Arena.

Nadal will play 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov for a place in the final.

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov plays a backhand against Belgium's David Goffin in their quarter-final on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday

IMAGE: Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov plays a backhand against Belgium's David Goffin in their quarter-final on day 10 of the 2017 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday. Photograph: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Grigor Dimitrov dismantled 11th seed David Goffin 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in their Australian Open quarter-final on Wednesday to advance to his second grand slam semi-final.

The 25-year-old Bulgarian, whose previous grand slam semi-final was at Wimbledon in 2014, will meet either Rafael Nadal or third seed Milos Raonic in the last four.

The pair engaged in a cagey baseline battle, as Goffin struggled with his serve and made 46 unforced errors.

Goffin saved two match points trailing 5-3 in the third set but Dimitrov was able to serve out in the next game and clinched the win in two hours, 12 minutes when he blasted a backhand winner down the line.

Serena Williams of the US celebrates match point after defeating Britain's Johanna Konta in the Australian Open quarter-final in Melbourne on Wednesday

IMAGE: Serena Williams of the US celebrates match point after defeating Britain's Johanna Konta in the Australian Open quarter-final in Melbourne on Wednesday. Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters

Serena Williams remained on course for her 23rd grand slam title by quelling the challenge of in-form Briton Johanna Konta 6-2, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the eighth time on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old American served up 10 aces and thumped 25 winners over 75 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to join sister Venus in the last four, where she will play Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

Ninth seed Konta, who reached the semi-finals here last year and won the Sydney warm-up tournament, managed a single break in the second set but was unable to cope with the power of the world number two.

Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni celebrates winning her quarter-final match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova

IMAGE: Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni celebrates winning her quarter-final match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova. Photograph: Edgar Su/Reuters

Earlier, Lucic-Baroni continued her fairytale run at the Australian Open by advancing to her first Melbourne Park semi-final with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over fifth seed Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old, whose only other grand slam semi-final was against Steffi Graf at Wimbledon in 1999, will face second seed Serena Williams.

"I can't believe this, this is crazy," said Lucic-Boroni.

"I can't believe I'm in semi-finals again. I feel a little bit in shock right now."

Source: REUTERS
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