Swiatek sweeps into Australian Open semis

Melbourne, Jan. 23: Defending champion Jannik Sinner raced into the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday in imperious fashion after Iga Swiatek was equally ruthless to close on a first Melbourne crown.

Italian world number one Sinner swept aside an out-classed home hope Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 to silence Rod Laver Arena and set up a meeting with 21st seed Ben Shelton.

The other semi-final is between 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic and world number two Alexander Zverev, with both taking place on Friday.

Sinner is bidding to defend a Grand Slam title for the first time after beating Daniil Medvedev in the final last year, and is also seeking to become the first Italian man to win three Grand Slam crowns. He also won the US Open last year.

The 22-year-old American Shelton booked his place in the semi-finals in Melbourne for the first time with a battling 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) win over unseeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek edged closer to a first Australian Open crown with a ruthless 6-1, 6-2 victory over American eighth seed Emma Navarro in gusty conditions on Rod Laver Arena.

"Madison is a great player and experienced so you never know," Swiatek said of the American. "It will be tricky, I will just be focused on myself. She has already played a good tournament here and we are well aware of how she can play."

Keys stormed back from a set down to beat Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in their quarter-final.

The 19th seed moved into the last four at Melbourne Park for the third time, 10 years after her first. Keys, who will be 30 next month, leads the WTA Tour with 12 wins this season and is on a 10-match unbeaten streak after lifting the Adelaide title.

She had to show her resilience to fight back against 28th seed Svitolina.

Two-time defending champion and world number one Aryna Sabalenka plays Spain's 11th seed Paula Badosa in the other semi-final.(AFP)