Tennis-Zheng finds groove to down Kalinskaya, reach Australian Open semis

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 24, 2024 China's Qinwen Zheng in action during her quarter final match against Russia's Anna Kalinskaya REUTERS/Issei Kato

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Zheng Qinwen shook off a sluggish start to outclass Russian Anna Kalinskaya 6-7(4) 6-3 6-1 on Wednesday and reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time where the Chinese 12th seed will take on Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska.

Kalinskaya appeared nervous in her first Grand Slam quarter-final as she gifted the opening break of the match with a double fault but Zheng returned the favour immediately and the duo were locked until the tiebreak after more shaky displays on serve.