Aussie junior world No.1 Emerson Jones is two wins away from a 30-year first, after coming back to earn a spot in the Australian Open girls singles’ semi-finals.
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Jones, who lost her grand slam debut 6-1 6-1 to Elena Rybakina last week, had to come back from a set down but claimed her quarter-final over Austria’s Lilli Tagger 4-6 6-2 6-2 on Thursday afternoon.
It books her a spot in the last four against No.4 seed Wakana Sonobe on Friday, after the Japanese beat Aussie wildcard Tahlia Kokkinis 6-2 6-4.
Jones was the runner-up in last year’s junior tournament and is trying to become the first Aussie girl to win her home junior slam since Siobhan Drake-Brockman in 1995.
In the boys singles, Lindsay Davenport’s son Jagger Leach is into the semi finals as the highest-ranked player left.
Earlier, an Australian Open war of words has erupted over a handshake snub in the women’s doubles.
Ukrainian Lyudmyla Kicheno came in for criticism after refusing to shake hands following defeat to Kristina Mladenovic and Zang Shuai in straight sets on Monday.
Mladenovic was seen awkwardly holding out her hand only for Kichenok to wave it off and turn to thank the chair umpire.
Speaking after the match Mladenovic accused her opponents of inappropriate behaviour.
“Very slow start, but if you want my real honest opinion, I think the opponents woke me up because they were showing un-sportsmanship during my serve and I got really mad. I was like ‘OK, this is how the match is starting’,” Mladenovic said in her on-court interview.
“It woke me up and I was very composed with my partner and we fought together to find a solution. That was a trigger point for me and it woke me up.”
Kichenok, however, took to social media on Wednesday to explain her actions, making an accusation of her own.
“I would like to clarify the situation that has happened in my 3rd round AO match against Kristina Mladenovic,” she wrote.
“Publicly accused of bad sportsmanship. I would like to say my word.
“I received a very direct threat from my opponent during the match after unintentionally hitting her with a tennis ball.
“The response to my numerous apologies was ‘you watch out next time’.
“I don’t consider appropriate the act of respect like shake of hands in the end of the match with people who use verbal threats. Period.”
WOMEN’S SEMIS PREVIEW
The two brightest stars in women’s tennis have never met in a grand slam final – but they’re each a win away from setting up a blockbuster Australian Open decider.
Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and five-time slam-winner Iga Swiatek will play their respective semi-finals tonight (from 7:30pm AEDT), and could book a rare meeting at one of tennis’ biggest tournaments.
While the pair have played 12 matches all-time, with eight won by Swiatek, they have played just once at a slam – when the Pole won 3-6 6-1 6-4 in the 2022 US Open semi-finals.
They have traded the world No.1 ranking back and forth since Ash Barty’s 2022 retirement, with Sabalenka coming into Melbourne Park wearing the crown.
While the Belarusian has been utterly dominant on Australian soil over the last few years, Swiatek has never even made the final here – despite spending 125 weeks as world No.1, good for seventh all-time.
Shelton calls out ‘disrespectful’ media | 01:16
She faces in-form, powerful American Madison Keys in her semi-final, which will be played after Sabalenka’s battle with great mate and Spaniard Paula Badosa.
Former world No.2 Badosa has recovered from a career-threatening back injury and done remarkably well to get this far, but will need to find another level to stop the 2023 and 2024 Australian Open winner.
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AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY 12 ORDER OF PLAY (All times AEDT)
Women’s Singles Semi-Finals
Rod Laver Arena
Night session from 7:30pm
No.1 Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) vs No.11 Paula Badosa (ESP)
No.19 Madison Keys (USA) vs No.2 Iga Swiatek (POL)
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