Germany's Angelique Kerber stunned two-time champion Victoria Azarenka as she swept into the Australian Open semi-finals with her first ever win over the Belarusian on Wednesday.
The seventh seed, who had never gone beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park before, blasted past the 14th seed 6-3, 7-5 and will play either Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai or British hope Johanna Konta for a place in the final.
It was a huge upset for the German, who had lost all six previous encounters with Azarenka, including in the final of the Brisbane International this month and an epic three-hour marathon at last year's US Open.
"I can't describe it. I was 0-6 (in their head to head) before I came on court. I said 'Just go for it and beat her'. I'm so happy to beat her for the first time," she said.
"I tried to serve well from the first point and play more aggressive than the last few times I played her. This is incredible feeling to play here on centre court.
Kerber is a renowned fighter and the quality shone through as she battled back from 2-5 down in the second set against a player who has been in ominous form this season.
Azarenka had lost just 11 games in her four matches prior to meeting Kerber and was seen as the main threat to Serena Williams' relentless march to a 22nd Grand Slam crown.
- Belarusian implodes -
Williams brushed aside Maria Sharapova in her quarter-final and faces Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday for a place in the decider.
But Kerber, who had a stellar 2015, winning four tournaments, second only to Williams' five, had other ideas to become the first German into the last four here since Anke Huber in 1998.
It was a huge upset for the German, who had lost all six previous encounters with Azarenka, including in the final of the Brisbane International this month and an epic three-hour marathon at last year's US Open.
"I can't describe it. I was 0-6 (in their head to head) before I came on court. I said 'Just go for it and beat her'. I'm so happy to beat her for the first time," she said.
"I tried to serve well from the first point and play more aggressive than the last few times I played her. This is incredible feeling to play here on centre court.
Kerber is a renowned fighter and the quality shone through as she battled back from 2-5 down in the second set against a player who has been in ominous form this season.
Azarenka had lost just 11 games in her four matches prior to meeting Kerber and was seen as the main threat to Serena Williams' relentless march to a 22nd Grand Slam crown.
- Belarusian implodes -
Williams brushed aside Maria Sharapova in her quarter-final and faces Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday for a place in the decider.
But Kerber, who had a stellar 2015, winning four tournaments, second only to Williams' five, had other ideas to become the first German into the last four here since Anke Huber in 1998.
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