Five-times Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek’s hopes of reaching a first Australian Open final were dashed by American Madison Keys on but the Pole said she was still young and would come back stronger next year.

As Paula Badosa watched Aryna Sabalenka winners whizzing by her from all angles, it was game over for the Spaniard in the Australian Open semi-finals as she fell to an inspired opponent producing “PlayStation” tennis.

Iga Swiatek booked her second Australian Open semi-final with another spectacular display on Wednesday while Americans reached the last four of the men’s and women’s singles at Melbourne Park for the first time in 16 years.

Australian Open semi-finalist Ben Shelton has taken the Grand Slam’s on-court interviewers to task for being “disrespectful” to players.

Defending champion Jannik Sinner dismissed eighth seed Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-2 6-1 to reach the Australian Open semi-finals and extend the country’s decades-long wait for another homegrown singles winner at the Grand Slam yesterday.

Paula Badosa and Madison Keys will be out to prevent a dream Australian Open final when they face Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, respectively, in Thursday’s semi-finals at Melbourne Park.

A rampaging Iga Swiatek stormed into her second Australian Open semi-final with a 6-1 6-2 centre court demolition of eighth seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday as the world number two underlined her title credentials once again at Melbourne Park.

First came a visceral roar. Then a tender hug.

Novak Djokovic beat young rival Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 in a gladiatorial battle worthy of a title clash to charge into the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday and remain in the hunt for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova said her Australian Open quarter-final loss to top seed Aryna Sabalenka would not blot her solid start to the season and the Russian hoped to carry the momentum forward.

Aryna Sabalenka will not let her friendship with Paula Badosa affect her quest to win a third successive Australian Open title when the best friends clash in the semi-finals, the defending champion said.

Alexander Zverev played his best tennis when it mattered most to down Tommy Paul 7-6(1) 7-6(0) 2-6 6-1 yesterday and reach his third Australian Open semi-final in five years, keeping alive his dream of finally landing a Grand Slam title.