Highlights, Australian Open 2018, semi-finals: Marin Cilic wins; Simona Halep outlasts Angelique Kerber in epic

Marin Cilic has advanced to his first Australian Open final, beating Kyle Edmund of Britain 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

The sixth-seeded Croatian player becomes just the second man outside the so-called Big Four of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray to reach the final at Melbourne Park in the last 10 years. Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 champion, is the other.

Cilic reached his third career Grand Slam final after the 2014 US Open, which he won, and 2017 Wimbledon, which he lost to Federer.

Cilic will also rise to a career-high ranking of No 3 by making the final.

He’ll face the winner of the second semi-final on Friday between Federer and Hyeon Chung of South Korea.

Marin Cilic will have a chance to win his second Grand Slam title on Sunday

3️⃣rd Grand Slam final
1️⃣st #AusOpen final
1️⃣st 🇭🇷 man or woman to do so at Melbourne Park

Congratulations, @cilic_marin! 👏 pic.twitter.com/2LgFLOraXB

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Marin Cilic wins 6-2, 7-6(4), 6-2 against Kyle Edmund.

The Croatian progresses to his 3rd Grand Slam final — his first at the Australian Open.

Marin Cilic breaks for a second time and he’s a game away from winning. 5-2.

Edmund now looking visibly hampered by the injury that he had taken a medical timeout for. His movement compromised, he just can;t defend in the long rallies and his admirable resistence comes to an end.

Cilic holds at love for 4-2 and is just two games away from reaching the final. 4-2.

The 6th seed has done little wrong in this match today. Served at a very high level, and has neutralised Edmund’s powerful forehand with his own.

Edmund rescues a huge service hold to avoid falling too far behind in the third set. 2-3.

The Brit saves a break point and then holds after four deuces.

Cilic surges ahead to 3-1.

Edmund stretches Cilic to three deuces in the next game. 

But as usual his serve comes to his rescue and he holds for 3-1.

Cilic breaks early at the start of the 3rd set. Leads 2-1

Edmund’s serve collapse under the constant pressure of Cilic’s hammering returns. Long way back for the Brit now as he trails by two sets and a break.

95% of first serve points won by Cilic in the 2nd set. Difficult to do much on the return against such numbers.

Marin Cilic leads 2-0 in the semi-final against Kyle Edmund.

The Croat wins the second set 7-6(4) after an hour.

Cilic wins the tie-break 7-4.

Cilic gets the first mini break in the TB after a battle of the backhands that he eventually won with a forehand down the line. 4-3. 

Cilic hits a shot near the baseline. The call comes late from the linesperson, and Cilic challenges. Hawk-Eye shows that point was in, the point is replayed, and he wins it to go 5-3 up. Edmund chips a return into the net and it’s three SET POINTS for the 6th seed. 

Cilic converts on the 2nd to take firm control of this semi-final.

Tie-break time!

Ace down the tee from Cilic on the first point. 1-0.

Edmund responds with a similar big serve down the middle on the other side. 1-1. 

Cilic can’t put an easy backhand in play and it’s 2-1 for Edmund. The crowd applauds in approval, clearly wanting the underdog to win this set. 

3-3 after the first six points as the players change ends. No mini breaks yet.

Edmund holds to take the second set to a tie-break!

Edmund shanks his forehand on the first point. 0-15. 

A nice, accurate serve down the tee and it’s 15-15. 

Ace down the middle hit at 202 kmph makes it 30-15.

Cilic challenges the next Edmund serve but Hawk-Eye shows that it clipped the line and it’s 40-15 to Edmund.

Cilic gets a racquet on the next serve and then rips a huge forehand for a winner. 40-30. 

Another heavy forehand from Cilic and he takes the game to deuce. 

Edmund finally holds after two big serves. We are going to a tie-break.

Cilic does his bit on serve, drops only one point to make it 6-5

Now Edmund will serve to try and take this to the tie-break. 

As the games have progressed, Edmund’s chances of breaking the Cilic serve have looked bleaker. The tie-break could be the only way he wins this set.

Edmund holds for 5-5

After missing a backhand on his first point, Edmund does well to win the next two points. 

But he throws a double fault next and it’s 30-30. Cilic two points away from a 2-0 lead in this match. 

Ace and it’s 40-30. 

Another massive serve down the tee from Edmund and he holds for 5-5.

Heading towards the business end of the second set

Both men have been quite dominant on their serves in the second set. There haven’t been any real chances yet.

Edmund of course under more pressure after dropping the opening set.

Cilic makes it 5-4. Edmund to serve to stay in the second set.

Cilic starts off with a rare double fault. 0-15.

Another second serve from the Croatian and Edmund replies with a deep forehand. Cilic misfires on the next forehand and it’s 0-30. Small window of opportunity for Edmund. 

A solid serve down the line from Cilic makes it 15-30.

Edmund muffs an easy backhand and an ace from Cilic means the window slams shut. 40-30.

Cilic keeps going after the Edmund backhand and he gets an error from his opponent. He holds.

Both Cilic and Edmund exchange two quick holds and the match is at 4-4 in the second set.

The next 10-15 minutes could decide the fate of this match.

Edmund holds for 3-3

Edmund comes up with the perfect game to respond. He holds at love with four cracking first serves.

The Brit now needs to find a  way to break the Cilic serve.

Cilic comes through that service game for 3-2

Edmund is still quite angry but he needs to keep calm and not lose focus.

Kyle Edmund has a heated argument with the chair umpire about a call on Cilic’s first point.

“Get the referee. This is rubbish, I’m not having it”, Kyle Edmund says to the umpire.

Excellent serving from Edmund to make it 2-2

Edmund bludgeons the ball for an inside-out forehand winner off a Cilic slice.

At 30-30, Edmund nets an easy forehand and it’s break point for the 6th seed. 

Edmund saves the break point with a massive ace down the middle. This was his 3rd ace of the match. 

One more booming service winner brings up game point and with this third service winner — this one out wide — Edmund holds for 2-2.

On serve in the second set at 2-1

Serving at 1-1, Cilic fires two aces back-to-back. 

Edmund produces a deep return to catch Cilic napping at the baseline — Cilic can only net his backhand. 

However, two big serves later, Cilic holds comfortably for 2-1.

Cilic starts off the second set with a love-hold

Edmund seems to be moving fine for now. No update on what the medical timeout was for.

Take a look at the first set stats

Kyle Edmund has called for a medical timeout at the end of the 1st set

He has gone off court for an examination and treatment

Marin Cilic takes the first set 6-2 over Kyle Edmund is just 36 minutes.

The 6th seed is two sets away from his maiden Australian Open final.

Edmund serving to stay alive in the first set at 2-5 and gets broken again 

At 30-30, he misses a forehand down the line and it’s set point for Cilic. 

Cilic wins the set with a booming cross-court forehand.

Cilic gets the first break in the match and leads 4-2

The Croatian peppers Edmund’s backhand and it cracks under the constant scrutiny.

Cilic and Edmund exchange contrasting holds to start off the match. 1-1.

The 6th seed had to save two break points on his serve while Edmund breezed through his game.

Both men are looking to make their first Aus Open final.

It's time for Men's Singles SF action on @RodLaverArena!

Sixth seed @cilic_marin will take on @kyle8edmund.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ekWF0RN95s

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

We shift our focus to the men’s semi-final now!

6th seed Marin Cilic takes on 23-year-old unseeded Kyle Edmund. 

Cilic leads the head-to-head 1-0.

Take a look at the final stats from Halep’s win

Watch Halep’s on-court interview after that titanic battle

"I try to be very calm, but today was like a rollercoaster up and down. I didn't give up, not even a ball. I did it really well, and I'm really proud of myself actually."@Simona_Halep through to the final.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/HGB8IP1QBa

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

What an incredible, incredible win!

Just too good @Simona_Halep 😌👌#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ynMgmWND0d

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

If you missed out on this match, you missed a classic

Simona Halep has advanced to her first Australian Open final after saving two match points and rallying to defeat Angelique Kerber 3-6, 6-4, 9-7 in the second women’s semi-final on Thursday.

Both women had their chances to put the match away in the 68-minute-long third set.

Halep was serving for the match at 5-3, but was broken after Kerber ended a 26-stroke rally with a backhand winner that just clipped the line. The German player then fell to her knees and put her forehead on the court in exhaustion.

Halep had two match points in the next game, but Kerber saved the first with a backhand down the line and the second when Halep hit into the net.

After Kerber broke to take a 6-5 lead, she then had two match points of her own, but Halep saved them both and then broke back to level the match at 6-all.

Serving at 7-8, Kerber saved a third match point before Halep finally converted on the fourth when the German sent a ball long.

Halep said after the match, “Definitely was very tough. I’m shaking now, I’m really emotional because I could win this match.”

Simona Halep wins 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 against Angelique Kerber after two hours and 23 minutes of a titanic battle. 

Halep is through to the Australian Open final for the first time in her career.

Simona Halep breaks to win 9-7 in the third.

Halep brings up 0-30 on Kerber’s serve with two massive forehand into the corners of the court. 

She overhits a return to Kerber’s second serve and it’s 15-30. 

BIG serve from Kerber to Halep’s forehand and she gets the error again. 30-all.

Another long rally with Halep pushing Kerber behind the baseline but the German keeps retrieving everything. Halep eventually gets the winner to bring up MATCH POINT #3. 

Kerber saves the match point with gutsy play — a great serve followed by a forehand winner. 

Halep brings up MATCH POINT again and this time she converts!

So tight in this match

Simona Halep: 48 winners, 48 unforced errors
Angelique Kerber: 33 winners, 33 unforced errors#AusOpen

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Halep holds for 8-7. Kerber will once again serve to stay alive in this semi-final. 

Halep brings up game point with a huge forehand down the line at 30-all. 

She fires another massive forehand winner to hold and edge ahead 8-7.

Two quick holds from both players and it’s 7-7.

This is by far the best match of this tournament and if you aren’t watching it, you need to find a TV screen and fix that immediately.

Halep saves TWO MATCH POINTS and breaks for 6-6.

Kerber edged ahead by breaking for 6-5 and had a chance to close this match out. 

The German brings up TWO MATCH POINTS on her own serve. 

However, she fails to convert either as Halep gets it her absolute everything on both points to break right back. 

Both players look absolutely spent bu they are still fighting like gladiators.

Kerber holds for 5-5 after saving TWO MATCH POINTS!

Fighting to the death.@AngeliqueKerber saves TWO match points!

5-all in the third... #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/PCNmOjvau5

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Kerber breaks right back. 4-5.

The German plays one of the best rallies of the match on break point. That was 26 shots of jaw-dropping brilliance and Kerber falls to her knees after winning that point. 

This match has reached ridiculous levels.

Halep breaks for 5-3.

Kerber down 0-30. Massive trouble brewing! 

She is still unable to put her full legs in her serve. Halep pulls her wide off court with a hooked forehand and Kerber nets her return. THREE BREAK POINTS.

Kerber saves the first with a solid serve out wide and a crouching return towards the other end of the court. 

But she overhits on the next point and it’s break Halep. 

The World No 1 will serve for a place in the final.

Both players exchange a hold apiece and it’s 4-3 in the deciding set

The level of play has dropped a little bit from both Halep and Kerber but they are grinding out service holds. 

From 0-30 down, Halep pulled off four incredible points to edge ahead 4-3. Pressure now back on Kerber. Does she have enough fuel left in her?

Halep holds her nerve and her serve for 3-2

Important hold from Halep, winning four consecutive points from 0-15.

Halep: 28 winners, 31 unforced errors

Kerber: 22 winners, 30 unforced errors

Meanwhile, Kerber seems to be stretching her left leg. All the running in this match seems to be taking its toll.

Eben though Kerber held in the previous game, she looks knackered. Advantage, Halep. 

Neck and neck. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/3InGE8gLz8

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Kerber holds for 2-2

Halep hits an incredible backhand down the line winner on the run. 0-15. 

Forehand error from Kerber and it’s 0-30. Halep can’t make a routine backhand return and then hits a forehand wide. 30-30. 

Halep overcooks her forehand after engaging in a long rally to let Kerber off the hook. Another forehand into the net from Halep and Kerber escapes with a hold.

An exchange of breaks to start off the 3rd set. 1-1.

Difficult to tell who has the advantage here. Halep seems to have lost a little bit of confidence while Kerber is showing signs of fatigue. 

Who do you think will win the 3rd set?

Kerber’s numbers don’t reveal much but she made the most of her opportunities

Angelique Kerber snatches the second set from 1-3 down. It’s 6-3, 4-6 after an hour and 13 minutes.

We are headed to a decider.

Kerber breaks for 5-4 and then holds to level the match!

What a swing in momentum in the last 20 minutes of this semi-final. Kerber comes up on top by being the steadier player as Halep loses her head and the set.

HUGE hold from Kerber for 4-4 after saving two break points

A game full of drama goes Kerber’s way after Hawk-Eye comes to her rescue on BREAK POINT — she challenged a forehand down the line and it was just in. DEUCE. 

Halep launches a return right back at the feet of Kerber and she can’t deal with it. DEUCE again. An error from the Romanian makes it advantage Kerber.

What a point by Kerber as she chases down a short Halep slice and fires it back up the line for a winner. She saves two break points and levels for 4-4.

Tremendous performance from Halep 

Halep is still the one attacking and controlling points while Kerber is doing just about enough to hang with her. 

Kerber has been put on the run so often by Halep’s forehand, it’s incredible. 

Neither player has played their best at the same time in this match — one player peaks, the other recedes. And vice-versa.

Two straight service holds in the second set and it’s 4-3

.@Simona_Halep means business 👊

It's on serve in the second set at 4-3. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/V9mpOQaUkG

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Kerber breaks right back. 2-3.

Halep gets a bit impatient at 30-30 to spray a forehand wide. Kerber then plays an excellent point to wrong foot Halep and she gets the break.

Very important game from Kerber. The German is still misfiring but she’s definitely finding some extra pop behind her groundstrokes.

Halep breaks first in the second set and leads 3-1.

The World No 1 continues her brilliant level from the first set and brings up 0-30 on Kerber’s serve. The German is in trouble again as her forehand lets her down. 

Kerber fires a forehand deep cross court to draw the error from Halep and then Halep nets a return. 30-30.

Another forehand error from Kerber and it’s break point Halep – but again she can’t make the return. DEUCE.

Kerber’s forehand is a mess again and it’s BREAK POINT for Halep.

The Romanain pushes Kerber back with a flurry of forehands and eventually gets the error!

Both Kerber and Halep are unbeaten in 2018

Halep won Shenzhen in the opening week while Kerber won Sydney. Kerber also did not lose a match at the Hopman Cup, which makes it 14 straight wins for the German.

Taka a look at the stats from the rollercoaster set 1

What a blazing start from the World No 1!

💪 @Simona_Halep#AusOpen @Kia_Motors #KiaTennis pic.twitter.com/vfbpgTQrxh

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Simona Halep wins the first set against Angelique Kerber 6-3 in just 25 minutes.

Halep won the first five games, Kerber then won three on the trot before Halep finally clinched the opener. Very topsy-turvy start to the match.

Halep breaks and seals the opening set 6-3

Kerber fell behind 0-40 while serving at 3-5. She saves the first set point with a backhand winner down the line but commits yet another unforced error at 15-40 and the set is in Halep’s bag.

Kerber holds and then breaks again for 3-5

Complete 180 in Halep’s play; Kerber has now won 12 of the last 13 points.

Kerber is slowly finding her way back in this match but Halep still leads by a break.

Kerber breaks for 1-5

Halep serving for the first set but she throws in two double faults!

Kerber wins the next point to bring up three break points. She whips a forehand passing shot around the world No1 to get on the board.

Halep breaks for a third time for 5-0

Kerber did well to fight off two break points after falling behind 0-40 but Halep converted on the third break point after a long rally. Halep doing an excellent job of moving Kerber around the court and controlling points with her aggressive hitting.

Kerber looking a bit lost at the moment. She needs to find her form quickly! Halep to serve for the first set.

Kerber and Halep have played eight times before and it’s split 4-4 between them.

Halep leads the head-to-head on hard courts 4-2.

Simona Halep has raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set with a double break.

Very nervy start from Kerber – her shoulders look tense, and she is hitting too many unforced errors.

Time to shift our focus to the second women’s semi-final!

2016 champion Angelique Kerber takes on the top seed Simona Halep.

Elise Mertens’ stunning run comes to an end

Before we move on to the second semi-final between Kerber and Halep, let’s appreciate what a great tournament it’s been for 22-year-old Elise Mertens on her Australian Open debut. 

It’s been an incredible last 12 months for Mertens, who will make her top 20 debut on Monday. She was #127 at the start of 2017.

Ranking update:

If Simona Halep loses in the semi-final to Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki will be assured of the No 1 ranking on Monday.

If Halep wins, the Australian Open champion will walk away with the World No 1 ranking.

Watch Wozniacki’s on-court interview following her win

She admits the 2011 semi-final was on her mind as she served for the match.

"It means so much to me... I was serving for the match in 2011 and that was definitely on my mind."@CaroWozniacki pulls through! She's heading to her first #AusOpen final. pic.twitter.com/WvPlNswn5W

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Caroline Wozniacki has advanced to her first Australian Open final

The second seed beat Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the first women’s semi-final on Thursday.

Wozniacki was steadier than her 22-year-old opponent for much of the match, though she had her own wobbles toward the end. Wozniacki double-faulted twice while serving for the match at 5-4, allowing Mertens to break serve and level the score at 5-all.

Wozniacki settled her nerves, however, and fought off two set points before closing it out on her first match point in the tie-breaker.

Wozniacki said she started thinking about her Australian Open semi-final loss to Li Na in 2011 when she wasted a match point. Then she tried to put it out of her mind.

She said, “I just tried to stay calm and I was lucky to get the win.”

Take a look at the final stats from Wozniacki’s victory. Impressive service numbers.

Wozniacki’s reaction after she clinched the win

🤗🤗🤗 @CaroWozniacki#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/kXOg4ZyAzd

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Wozniacki had to overcome a late hiccup in the second set but she persisted in the tie-break to win!

Wozniacki wins!

Too many balls in play. Nobody ever lost from putting too many balls in play. 👋👋 #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/feYpQQI0JE

— Craig O'Shannessy 🇺🇦 (@BrainGameTennis) January 25, 2018

Caroline Wozniacki defeats Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-6(2) in an hour and 40 minutes to make her first Australian Open final. 

The second seed now awaits the winner of Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber.

Wozniacki is through to her third Grand Slam final.

Her first #AusOpen final!@CaroWozniacki beats a gutsy Elise Mertens in impressive fashion 6-3 7-6(2).

...she is now ONE win away from her first Grand Slam trophy 🇩🇰🏆 pic.twitter.com/dvVppdk6jf

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Wozniacki wins the tie-break 7-2.

Mertens attempts to attack Wozniacki’s serve but she can’t get in postilion and sends her return well wide.

Wozniacki cracks a forehand down the line after a well-constructed point to make it 6-2 and bring up FOUR MATCH POINTS.

Mertens hits yet another backhand into the net and Wozniacki wins.

Tie-break time!

Mertens drops the first point after hitting yet another forehand into the net. First mini-break goes Wozniacki’s way. 1-0. 

Two great serve from the second seed makes it 3-0. 

Wozniacki allowed Mertens back into the second set but the 22-year-old hasn’t really stepped up to grab her chance. She blitzes a forehand winner and then smashes an overhead to make it 2-3. 

Mertens can;t make a simple backhand – it finds the net – and it’s 4-2 in Wozniacki’s favour as they change ends.

Wozniacki holds for 6-6 to force a tie-break!

Mertens is in all out attack mode now! She wins the first two points with clean winners. 0-30.

The Belgian sends a backhand long but that’s followed by a Wozniacki error and it’s two SET POINTS for Mertens.

Some brave tennis from Wozniacki – a second serve hit out wide and a forehand winner – help her save both the set points. 

Another double fault from Wozniacki on game point brings the game back to DEUCE. She wins the next point at the net after volleying into the open court. Game point once again.

Mertens fores a forehand return winner down the line to make it DEUCE once again. But she overcooks her forehand and Wozniacki has another chance to hold. 

Terrible return that sails well long from the Dane makes it DEUCE. Solid serve and she has game point. This game has seen so many shifts in momentum.

Wozniacki finally holds with an inside-out forehand winner! It’s tie-break time.

Mertens holds for love and she leads 6-5!

Wozniacki has lost eight straight points and, from serving for the final, she now trails 5-6. 

A reminder – back in 2011 in the Australian Open semi-final against Li Na, Woznaicki had a match point in the second set. She eventually lost the match in three sets.

Was that playing in the back of her mind when she served for the match? Mertens is swinging freely now and has a great chance of finding her way back in this match.

Mertens breaks to stay alive in this match! It’s back on serve in the second set at 5-5.

Wozniacki starts off with her 7th ace of the match – this one hit out wide and Mertens had no chance of reaching it. 15-0. 

Another BIG serve – down the T – and it’s 30-0. 

Wozniacki hits a forehand return wide and it’s 30-15. 

She double faults on the next point. 30-30. 

Mertens ends a long rally on the next point with a forehand passing winner. Wozniacki’s approach to come to the net was quite poor and she was rightly punished. BREAK POINT for Mertens. 30-40.

Wozniacki double faults again and she is broken!

After two quick holds, Wozniacki will now serve for a place in the final at 5-4.

Can Mertens find a way to break her serve and extend this match?

Quite an underwhelming performance from 22-year-old Mertens. She just hasn’t found any rhythm on her groundstrokes and has committed too many unforced errors. She holds for 3-4.

Wozniacki consolidates with a perfect game! 4-2.

The second seed holds at love and she is just two games away from her maiden Australian Open final.

Wozniacki also has a chance to take over as the World No 1 if she wins today.

It’s all going the Dane’s way!

.@CaroWozniacki breaks 👊

Mertens on the back foot now. 2-3.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/wYaBwzbFDF

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Mertens broken, she trails 2-3.

A routine forehand into the net and it’s BREAK POINT for Wozniacki. She nets a backhand on the next point to get broken.

Wozniacki has just been too good on all the crucial points in this match. Barely any unforced errors.

Wozniacki makes it 2-2. 

.@CaroWozniacki hit ten aces in her quarterfinal match against Carla Suarez Navarro. Almost on track to do the same with five against Mertens so far. #AusOpen

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Two holds exchanged between both players and we are at 2-1.

Still quite passive from Mertens and her forehand isn’t firing the way she’d like it to. Wozniacki, on the other hand, has been impeccable on her serve.

Mertens saves two break points and holds for 1-0 to start off the second set.

That was a very crucial hold for the Belgian. She cannot afford to fall behind in this second set. 

Mertens saves one with a nice serve out wide followed by a backhand winner. She saves the second with swerving serve down the tee. DEUCE.

Another solid serve from Mertens and Wozniacki can’t keep her return in play. Mertens comes up with her fourth first serve and wins the point to hold.

Wozniacki is looking to make her first Australian Open final. She’s halfway there.

Winner-acki 🔥

13 for the Dane so far. Takes the first set 6-3.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/VptDFAwwSx

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

Take a look a the first set stats. 13 winners and just six unforced errors from Wozniacki. Very clean set.

Wozniacki holds at love to take the opening set 6-3 in 38 minutes.

That was the perfect service game from the Dane as she quickly seals the first set. She’s been in control of this match so far.

Mertens holds for 3-5. 

Mertens serving to stay alive in the opening set. She had 40-15 on her serve but a backhand winner from Wozniacki and her third double fault of the match makes it deuce. 

She comes in to the net behind a deep return on the next point, and Wozniacki can’t keep the ball in play. Advantage Mertens.

A wild forehand and a botched volley from Mertens on the next two points brings up SET POINT for Wozniacki.

She saves it with a decent serve down the middle that Wozniacki returns long. DEUCE. 

Mertens fires her second ace of the match – down the T – and it’s advantage Mertens. 

Another service winner from Mertens and she holds! Good job under a lot of pressure.

Quick hold from Wozniacki and she is just a game away from taking the first set. 5-2.

The second seed has been very impressive from the word go. Hitting clean winners and serving well.

She’s hit 10 winners (3 aces) to 5 unforced errors in the match so far.

Mertens holds to make it 2-4.

The Belgian is finally playing with some confidence and freedom. She is taking the ball early and strikes through the ball for a winner. 

Wozniacki comes up with a glorious backhand down the line winner in the game but Mertens holds by finishing off a nice baseline exchange at the net.

Wozniacki saves a break point and consolidates for a 4-1 lead.

Mertens starts hitting her forehand a little better and that helps her bring up break point from 40-0 on the Dane’s serve.

But Wozniacki was up for the task and she gets out of trouble with a big serve, followed by a backhand winner. The Dane closes the game with a neat forehand winner down-the-line and an ace. 

That game was a testament to how much Wozniacki’s serve has improved over the last year or so. Brilliant tennis from the second seed.

Wozniacki gets the first break of the match! She leads 3-1.

The 2nd seed strikes the first blow as Mertens makes a few uncharacteristic errors on her forehand. Mertens is rushing a bit on that shot so far. 

Sign of nerves perhaps from the young Belgian who is playing in her first Grand Slam semi-final.

Wozniacki and Mertens start off their semi-final with two easy holds. 1-1.

Mertens hasn’t dropped a set in the tournament yet. Can she extend her record today?

Who’s your pick?

A first #AusOpen final awaits for the winner.@CaroWozniacki and @elise_mertens are ready. Who's your pick? pic.twitter.com/E63dpEPV0d

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

History in the making

Elise Mertens is in her first Slam semi-final ever, and on her Melbourne Park debut. If she wins the title, she will make history with no woman ever crowned champion in their maiden Australian tournament. She is the first Belgian in a Grand Slam semi since Kirsten Flipkens at Wimbledon in 2013.

Head-to-head:

Wozniacki leads the record 1-0. She defeated Mertens 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 on the clay at Bastad in 2017.

First up on Day 11:

Second seed Caroline Wozniacki takes on unseeded Elise Mertens.

Both players are out on court and are warming up. We are minutes away from live action.

Australian Open 2018, women’s semi-finals preview: Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki continue quest for 1st Slam title – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s live coverage of the Australian Open!

We’ve reached the semi-final stage of the first Grand Slam of 2018 and there are three cracking matches coming up on Day 11. Stay tuned as we bring you scores and update from all the matches at Melbourne Park.