Australian Open 2013: Murray Makes Semi-Finals, Serena Williams Suffers Shock Defeat

Third seed Andy Murray has progressed into the semi-final of the 2013 Australian Open with an easy win over unseeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy. Britain's No 1 booked his place in the last four of the first Grand Slam of the season with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 win over Chardy and the London Olympics 2012 gold medalist has yet to drop a set in Melbourne. Murray will now face the winner of the quarter-final between Roger Federer [2] and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [7].

"I will do an ice bath now ... and hope that Roger and Jo play for four or five hours or as long as possible. Today was the best I've played here. I've struggled in the last few rounds a little bit ... Jeremy has had a great tournament - he's beaten some top players. I had to come out sharp and get off to a good start," Murray said after the game.

Elsewhere in the men's singles draw, Serbian and world No 1 Novak Djokovic set up an enticing semi-final with comeback king David Ferrer [4] of Spain. Djokovic scythed through fifth seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic on Tuesday, winning 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, Ferrer outlasted compatriot Nicolas Almagro [10] in a five-set thriller, winning the decider 6-2.

Women's Singles

In the women's singles competition, five time former champion Serena William provided the shock of the tournament so far, after the 31-year-old former world No 1 was upstaged by 19-year-old compatriot Sloane Stephens. The teenager beat Great Britain's Laura Robson in the third round and has had a fantastic tournament so far. She beat Williams 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, to set up a dream meeting with world No 1 Victoria Azarenka. The Belarusian top seed waltzed past Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova in the first match of the day, winning, 7-5, 6-1.

"She played really well throughout the whole match. I know what kind of tennis she is capable of and in the beginning it took a little bit of adjustment because she has a very different game. I am glad I could produce my best tennis when it was needed," the Belarusian said after the game.

Meanwhile, the second semi-final is to be contested by another former world No 1 - Maria Sharapova. The 25-year-old Russian, the holder of a career Grand Slam, has been as imperious as Azarenka so far this tournament and wasted no time in dismantling compatriot Ekaterina Makarova [19] 6-2, 6-2. Sharapova will face China's Na Li [6], the 2011 French Open champion, after she upset fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in straight sets.