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 on Wednesday.
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 win 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 make it 5-5.
Kerber kept up the pressure and clinched the match in one hour and 45 minutes. She next faces the Briton Johanna Konta.
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