Aus Open: Nadal, Serena in Semis, Sania/Dodig Beat Rohan/Dabrowski

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni beat fifth seed Karolina Pliskova while Serena Williams beat ninth seed Johanna Konta.

• Rafa Nadal(9) beat Milos Raonic(3) 6-4, 7-6, 6-4
  Mirjana Lucic-Baroni beat Karolina Pliskova(5) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
  
• Serena Williams(2) beat Johanna Konta(9) 6-2, 6-3 in the quarter-final
  
• Sania Mirza-Ivan Dodig(2) beat Rohan Bopanna-Gabriela Dabrowski 6-4, 3-6, 12-10
  
• Grigor Dimitrov(15) beat David Goffin(11) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4

Sania Enters Mixed Semis

Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig held their nerves and saved two match points against Rohan Bopanna and Gabriela Dabrowski before pulling off a victory to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

The second seeded Indo-Croatian team felt the heat in the Super Tie-breaker but kept clam and not only saved two match points but also walked away with a 6-4 3-6 12-10 win in the quarterfinals.

With this defeat, Bopanna's campaign has ended at the first Grand Slam of the season. He had lost in the men's doubles second round with new parter Pablo Cuevas.

In the next match she could face Leander Paes and Martina Hingis, who are playing their quarterfinal against local favourites Samantha Stosur and Sam Groth.

Serena Williams One Step Closer to Reclaiming Number 1 Ranking

Serena Williams remained on course for her 23rd grand slam title by quelling the challenge of in-form Briton Johanna Konta 6-2 6-3 to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open for the eighth time on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old American served up 10 aces and thumped 25 winners over 75 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to join sister Venus in the last four, where she will play 34-year-old Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

Ninth seed Konta managed a single break in the second set but was unable to cope with the power of the world number two.

Williams is seeking her seventh Melbourne Park title, which would assure her of a return to world number one in place of Angelique Kerber.

Mirjana Lucic-Boroni Reaches First Melbourne Park Semis

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni continued her fairytale run at the Australian Open by advancing to her first Melbourne Park semi-final with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory over fifth seed Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old, whose only other grand slam semi-final was against Steffi Graf at Wimbledon in 1999, will face second seed Serena Williams for a spot in the final.

The match saw several swings of momentum with neither player really able to seize control, while Lucic-Baroni had trouble holding her serve when playing into the sun.

The Croat took a medical time out in the third set while trailing 4-3 but returned to win the next three games with ease to make the last four.

Also Read: Lucic-Baroni Continues Dream Run to Reach First Aus Open Semifinal

Nadal Cruises Into Semis

Rafa Nadal continued his brilliant revival at the Australian Open, toppling Milos Raonic 6-4 7-6(7) 6-4 to reach his first grand slam semi-final in three years.

The Spaniard joined Roger Federer in the last four, keeping alive the prospect of a dream final between the two great rivals who have claimed 31 grand slam titles between them.

Having not reached a major semi-final since his 2014 French Open title, the 30-year-old Nadal produced a match from his halcyon days to fell the third-seeded Canadian in two hours and 44 minutes at a floodlit Rod Laver Arena.

Nadal will play 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov for a place in the final.

Dimitrov Books Semis Slot

Grigor Dimitrov had a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over No. 11 David Goffin on Wednesday to reach the Australian Open semifinals, returning to the last four at a major for the first time since Wimbledon in 2014.It was the No. 15-seeded Dimitrov's fifth win from as many meetings with Goffin. He's on a roll in Australia after winning the Brisbane International tuneup tournament ahead of the season's first major.

Dimitrov said he'd be watching on TV later Wednesday to see who he plays next. Rafael Nadal, the 14-time major winner, was playing No. 3-ranked Milos Raonic in the night match.