Australian Open day nine: Stefanos Tsitsipas sets up Karen Khachanov semi-final

The story of the ninth day of action from Melbourne Park.

Stefanos Tsitsipas is through to the last four (Aaron Favila/AP) (AP)

Stefanos Tsitsipas continued to look the most likely challenger to Novak Djokovic as he eased into the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

The third seed defeated young Czech Jiri Lehecka in straight sets and will next meet Russia’s Karen Khachanov, who benefited from Sebastian Korda’s mid-match retirement due to a wrist injury.

Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina won a power battle against Jelena Ostapenko to set up a last-four clash with Victoria Azarenka, who saw off third seed Jessica Pegula.

Picture of the day

Point of the day

Quote of the day

With no line umpires, for me it looks a little empty.

Jelena Ostapenko is not a fan of automated line calling

Stat of the day

Dog days

Fallen seeds

Women: Jessica Pegula (3), Jelena Ostapenko (17)Men: Sebastian Korda (29)

Who’s up next?

Djokovic will hope his fitness worries are now behind him as he takes on fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night.

The winner of that contest is guaranteed to meet an unseeded American in the last four, with Tommy Paul facing 20-year-old Ben Shelton.

Fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka will hope to keep her title hopes alive when she takes on Donna Vekic, while former world number one Karolina Pliskova plays Magda Linette.