Australian Open 2018: Day 10 round-up

Day 10 saw the completion of the remaining quarter-final matches. All the big names including Roger Federer, Tomas Berdych, Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber, Madison Keys, Hyeon Chung, Tennys Sandgren, and Karolina Pliskova were in action. Let's see how they fared.

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Federer maintains his perfect record

Tomas Berdych congratulates Roger Federer

Roger Federer survived a first set scare and beat Tomas Berdych 7-6(1), 6-3, 6-4. The Swiss great did not have a good start, losing his first service game and going down 3-0. Federer seemed to be playing at a lower level than one expected and initially, it appeared as if Federer would lose the set.

Federer tightened his service game and started plugging away at the Berdych serve. Berdych won only six more points on Federer's next six service games. Berdych had a set point at 5-3; however, Federer saved it and then reclaimed the break. Federer saved one more set point in the 12th game to force a tie-break.

Federer's levels were steadily increasing and he won the tie break convincingly 7-1. After that, Berdych deflated and could not produce the same intensity as in the first set while Federer produced a masterclass. Federer stayed in control and won the next two sets allowing only a single break of serve. Federer has never been beaten at the quarter-final stage and reached his 14th Australian Open semi-final.

Chung Reaches maiden Grand Slam semi-final

Tennys Sandgren congratulates Chung Hyeon

Chung Hyeon won the battle of unseeded players. With both players featuring in their first ever Grand Slam quarter-final, Chung beat American Tennys Sandgren 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-3 to become the first South Korean player get to the last four of a Grand Slam.

Chung continued his fine form as he broke Sandgren in the third game of the first set and the first game of the second set. Sandgren evened it up and broke once more to serve for the set but could not hold his serve as Chung won the tie-break.

Chung broke Sandgren once again in the third set and carried that to victory. Sandgren had more winners and aces but was undone by unforced errors as well as Chung's ability to put balls back in play. Sandgren saved five match points before capitulating. Chung will now face defending champion, Roger Federer, for a spot in the finals.

Halep Routs Pliskova

Karolina Pliskova congratulates Simona Halep

Top seed Simona Halep routed Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-2 to reach her maiden Australian Open semi-final. Halep started poorly going down 3-0 in the first set before she recovered and reeled off the next 9 games to win the set and take a 3-0 lead in the second set.

Pliskova could not handle the pressure as her game fell apart. She made 28 unforced errors compared to Halep's 10. Pliskova was also broken 5 times in the match. Halep will be looking to reach her third Grand Slam final after the French Open in 2014 and 2017 but will need to get past Angelique Kerber in the semi-finals

Kerber destroys Keys

Madison Keys congratulates Angelique Kerber

Angelique Kerber destroyed Madison Keys 6-1, 6-2 in just 51 minutes to reach her second Australian Open semi-final. It was deja vu for Keys as she wilted on the big stage similar to the manner of her US Open finals defeat when she lost 6-3, 6-0 to Sloane Stephens.

Keys could not muster the level of play that saw her reach this far without losing a set. Kerber was in control throughout the match racing to a 4-0 lead in the first set and 3-1 in the second. Kerber will next take on World No. 1 Simona Halep for a place in the finals.

Semi-finals start on Day 11

Marin Cilic will be in action again on Day 11

Day 11 will see one of the men's semi-final match and both women's semi-final matches.

Marin Cilic will take on Kyle Edmund which should be a tough match. Cilic is playing well while Edmund has defied all expectations in reaching the semi-finals. Cilic should have his way with the unseeded Brit but you can never be sure of the final outcome.

Caroline Wozniacki will take on Elise Mertens. The unseeded Mertens is a surprise semi-finalist. Both players will be battling to reach their first Australian Open final.

Simona Halep takes on ann in-form Angelique Kerber. Kerber has played at a level well above her seeding of 21. This should be a closely contested match.