MELBOURNE, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Highlights of Wednesday's 10th day of the Australian Open, the first grand slam tournament of the year (times in GMT):
0614 HALEP STORMS INTO SEMI-FINALS
Top seed and world number one Simona Halep moved a step closer to a maiden grand slam title with an emphatic 6-3 6-2 win over Czech Karolina Pliskova to set up a semi-final date with Angelique Kerber.
"She is moving well and returning the ball good in the court," Halep said of Kerber. "I have to be strong in my legs and be calm. To start playing like I did at the end of the match and dominate the match and finish the points."
READ MORE
Chung becomes Korea's first major semi-finalist crushes Keys to reach Melbourne semis points lost and saved drive Wozniacki record fine to cure early pull-outs Federer v Tomas Berdych of play on Wednesday forehand is best in business - Wilander next Djokovic? Chung serves notice CHUNG MASTERS TENNYS TO REACH SEMI-FINALS
Chung Hyeon became the first South Korean to reach the semi-finals of a grand slam when he beat American Tennys Sandgren 6-4 7-6(5) 6-3 in two hours and 28 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
The bespectacled 21-year-old sealed victory when Sandgren went long after an extraordinary final game and will face reigning champion Roger Federer or Tomas Berdych in the last four.
0330 MADISON KEYS ON HER QUARTER-FINAL LOSS
"Sometimes you just don't play very well out there."
0215 FALSE ALARM ON ROD LAVER ARENA
The quarter-final between Tennys Sandgren and Chung Hyeon was disrupted early in the first set by an alarm broadcasting "Evacuate! Evacuate! Evacuate!" over the public address system.
The players returned to their chairs while umpire James Keothavong investigated and the match resumed after he had confirmed it was a false alarm.
0105 KERBER CRUSHES KEYS TO REACH SEMI-FINALS
Revitalised 2016 champion Angelique Kerber made a major statement of intent as she stormed into the semi-finals with a dominant 6-1 6-2 victory over Madison Keys.
"I'm really enjoying my tennis right now. I enjoy being on court, right now," the German said.
"I'm just happy to get through and be here in the semis."
0015 PLAY UNDERWAY WITH KERBER AND KEYS CLASH
Play got underway on schedule at 11 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) at Melbourne Park with Angelique Kerber and Madison Keys on Rod Laver Arena in the women's quarter-finals.
The temperature was 21 degrees Celsius (69 degrees Fahrenheit) and forecast to reach a high of 24. Read our preview of the day's action here: