Australian Open day 10 wrap: Novak Djokovic rolls towards 10th Melbourne title

Novak Djokovic Australia Open

Novak Djokovic was ruthless again in a straight-sets victory over Andrey Rublev to reach a 10th Australian Open semi-final.

There will he face Tommy Paul, who won the battle of the unseeded Americans against 20-year-old Ben Shelton.

In the women’s quarter-finals, fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka maintained her record of not having dropped a set by beating Donna Vekic while unseeded Pole Magda Linette defeated Karolina Pliskova.

Picture of the day

Tweet of the day

Quote of the day

“Let us give him a big round of applause, to Roger, guys,” Novak Djokovic acknowledges Roger Federer.

Shot of the day

Doubles delight

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are making up for their singles disappointment playing together in women’s doubles and are through to the semi-finals.

Flagged

Police reportedly questioned four fans at the Australian Open tennis on Wednesday after they unfurled Russian flags, including one featuring Vladimir Putin’s face, and threatened security staff, reports said.

The fans had attended Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev’s quarter-final defeat to Novak Djokovic at Melbourne Park, The Age and Herald Sun newspapers said.

The incident happened on stairs outside the centre court, Rod Laver Arena, where Rublev was defeated 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

“Four people in the crowd leaving the stadium revealed inappropriate flags and symbols and threatened security guards,” a spokesperson for organisers Tennis Australia told the newspapers.

“Victoria Police intervened and are continuing to question them. The comfort and safety of everyone is our priority and we work closely with security and authorities.”

Fallen seeds

Women: Karolina Pliskova (30)

Men: Andrey Rublev (5)

Australian Open Day 10 results

Collated results from Day 10 of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park on Wednesday:

Men’s

Quarter-finals

Novak Djokovic (SRB x4) bt Andrey Rublev (RUS x5) 6-1, 6-2, 6-4

Tommy Paul (USA) bt Ben Shelton (USA) 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4

Women’s

Quarter-finals

Magda Linette (POL) bt Karolina Pliskova (CZE x30) 6-3, 7-5

Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x5) bt Donna Vekic (CRO) 6-3, 6-2

Who’s up next?

The women take centre stage on Thursday, with both semi-finals taking place in the night session.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina takes on two-time former Melbourne winner Victoria Azarenka before Aryna Sabalenka and Magda Linette bid to reach their first grand slam final.

Alfie Hewett will aim to make more slam finals in wheelchair singles and doubles while Ranah Stoiber faces Weronika Ewald in the girls’ singles quarter-finals.

Australian Open semi-finals line-up (x denotes seed):

Men

Novak Djokovic (SRB x4) v Tommy Paul (USA)

Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE x3) v Karen Khachanov (RUS x18)

Women

Elena Rybakina (KAZ x22) v Victoria Azarenka (BLR x24)

Magda Linette (POL) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x5)

READ MORE: Novak Djokovic pays tribute to Roger Federer: ‘Tennis misses him

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