Aus Open PHOTOS: Kerber thwarts Azarenka comeback to reach semi-finals

Images from the matches played on Day 10 at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Wednesday

Angelique Kerber advanced to her first Australian Open semi-final with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Victoria Azarenka in a see-sawing quarter-final.

Twice champion Azarenka had lost just 11 games in her previous four matches at the tournament but found herself 4-0 down in the first set, which German Kerber went on to take in 48 minutes.

Azarenka mounted a comeback in the second set and had a chance to serve it out at 5-2 but seventh seed Kerber saved three set points, then saved two more in the 10th game to level the set at 5-5.

Kerber kept up the pressure and clinched the match in one hour, 45 minutes. She next faces unseeded Briton Johanna Konta.

Konta downs Zhang

Johanna Konta ground down Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai 6-4, 6-1 to become the first British woman to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam in over 30 years.

The 47th-ranked Konta battled nerves and a wayward serve at times but overpowered the 133rd-ranked Zhang from the baseline to wrap up the match in one hour and 23 minutes on a warm, sunny afternoon at Rod Laver Arena.

After trading service breaks at the start of the second set, Konta roared to a 5-1 lead before sealing the win on the third match point with a lucky net cord that gave Zhang no chance.

The last British woman to reach the semis of a grand slam was Jo Durie at the 1983 U.S. Open. Konta will seek to continue her fairytale run when she takes on German seventh seed Angelique Kerber for a place in the final.

Murray subdues Ferrer to continue British charge

Britain's Andy Murray overcame David Ferrer 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3 in a titanic quarter-final tussle to reach the last four for the sixth time.

With compatriot Konta having reached the last four in the women's draw, Britain has two representatives in the semi-finals of a grand slam for the first time since 1977.

The world number two was forced to scrap for almost every point but finally subdued the indefatigable Spanish eighth seed after three hours and 20 minutes of gruelling baseline tennis on Rod Laver Arena.

Murray will play the winner of the last quarter-final between Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils as he bids to reach a fifth Australian Open final.