Wednesday 28 January 2015 06:04, UK
Three-time runner-up Andy Murray edged closer to a fourth Australian Open decider as Tomas Berdych shocked Rafa Nadal and Maria Sharapova set up an all-Russian semi-final with plucky lefthander Ekaterina Makaraova.
The British sixth seed proved too experienced and disciplined for mercurial Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios, winning their night quarter-final in straight sets.
Czech seventh seed Berdych provided the day's stunning result by ending a demoralising run of outs to dump a struggling Rafael Nadal in straight sets in the earlier last eight clash.
Berdych finally mastered the Spanish 14-time Grand Slam champion 6-2 6-0 7-6 (7-5).
Murray broke Australian hearts when he eliminated unseeded 19-year-old Kyrgios 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 to take his record over Australian players to 11-0 before a partisan home crowd on Rod Laver Arena.
The talented Kyrgios said he would learn from the experience.
"There are some things I can take from that match and get better at," he said. "He was just way too good for me."
Did you know ... Berdych's upset ended a record-equalling 17-match winning run Nadal had over the Czech, who claimed his second consecutive semi-final appearance in Melbourne after losing to Stan Wawrinka last year.
Only Bjorn Borg over Vitas Gerulaitis and Ivan Lendl against Tim Mayotte had chalked up 17-match head-to-head winning streaks on the ATP Tour.
"I was definitely ready for it and set up my plan pretty well and I stuck with that through those three sets," Berdych said.
"I was expecting a very tough battle but I was ready for everything and I think that was the biggest thing from the past matches with Rafa.
"I started pretty well, but you are playing Rafa and you have to keep going until the last point."
Stat attack ... Nadal's miserable performance was just statistically better than his worst Grand Slam result. He won only eight games, two more than the six games he took off Juan Martin del Potro in the semi-final at the 2009 US Open.
The world No 3 also failed to win a game in the second set for his first 'bagel' at a Grand Slam since playing Roger Federer in the 2006 Wimbledon final and Andy Roddick in the second round at the 2004 US Open.
Teenager Kyrgios said he was proud of what he achieved at his home Grand Slam and would learn from the experience.
The 19-year-old Kyrgios, ranked 53 but expected to rise in the rankings after reaching the quarter-finals, showcased his extraordinary talents before his home crowd and a worldwide television audience.
Kyrgios beat far more experienced professionals Ivo Karlovic and Andreas Seppi on the way to the last eight against Murray and he is excited by the future.
"Yeah, really proud actually. You know two weeks ago I wasn't even sure I'd be playing the event," he said.
"It just has been a massive couple of weeks just trying to get fit. I'm actually happy. I wanted to win tonight, but having said that, I am just happy that was I was able to compete.
"I was hurting out there, so physicality is a big one. My mentality, I thought I had a couple dips out there. I need to stay consistent."
It was the second quarter-final inside a year for the 19-year-old after he reached the last eight at Wimbledon, becoming the first male teen to reach multiple Grand Slam quarter-finals since Federer in 2001.
Maria Sharapova flicked aside heir apparent Eugenie Bouchard, hitting peak form as the tournament progresses.
The Russian five-time Grand Slam champion crushed the Canadian seventh seed 6-3 6-2 to see off the challenge from a new generation and sounded a warning to rivals at Melbourne Park.
The win sets up an all-Russian final four clash on Thursday with dark horse Ekaterina Makarova after her compatriot upset nuggety Romanian Simona Halep 6-4 6-0.
Did you know ... Sharapova has a 5-0 record over the left-handed Makarova, whose previous best results in Australia came when she reached the quarter-finals in 2012 and 2013.
Milos Raonic delivers one of the most feared serves in tennis and is one of the new generation of stars threatening the dominance of the old guard.
The 25-year-old Raonic lost last year's French Open quarter-final to his opponent and world No 1 Novak Djokovic in three tight sets.
Meanwhile, the Serb is aiming to add a fifth Australian Open title and has beaten Raonic in all four of their career matches.
In the other match of the day, defending champion Stan Wawrinka will take on Kei Nishikori in a rematch of the US Open quarter-final that Nishikori won in five sets that lasted over four hours.
Recalling that match gives both players flashbacks. "He's a tough, tough player," the 29-year-old Wawrinka says about Nishikori.
Which is exactly what the 25-year-old Japanese player says about Wawrinka, adding: "It's going to be an exciting match."
Serena and Venus Williams are on a semi-final collision course at Melbourne Park.
Venus is currently enjoying a late-career resurgence that has been on full display at the Australian Open where both sisters have reached a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time since 2010.
Each will play a younger opponent who have never won a major. Serena takes on 5ft 3in Dominika Cibulkova, last year's runner-up to now retired Li Na, while Venus battles teenage star Madison Keys in an all-American tussle.
Fact ... If the Williams' prevail there will be a sisters semi-final which would be their 26th career meeting and their first since 2009 Wimbledon.
