Adelaide (Australia) (AFP) - Top seed Novak Djokovic battled past dangerous Canadian Denis Shapovalov with a high-octane performance Friday to set up an Adelaide International semi-final with former world number one Daniil Medvedev.
The Serbian, bidding for a 92nd career title in preparation for the Australian Open this month, overcame early wobbles before hitting his stride to win 6-3, 6-4.
He now meets Medvedev, runner-up at the last two Grand Slams in Melbourne, who proved too strong for compatriot Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-3.
"I think the scoreline probably doesn't give you the right idea of what happened on the court, it was such a close match -- two hours for two sets," Djokovic said.
"The first set was extremely exhausting for both of us, we pushed each other to the limit physically...I'm definitely pleased with the way I fought tonight."
He had a shaky start, going two break points down in a long first game.
But he recovered to hold and after a nearby fireworks display interrupted play for five minutes, he began to get the Canadian's measure and broke for 5-3 before serving out the set.
Djokovic raced 3-1 ahead in the second set and it looked all over, but Shapovalov rallied before the 35-year-old extended his career record over his opponent to 8-0.
Little separated Medvedev and Khachanov through their first six games before Medvedev reeled off 12 of 15 points to break twice and land the opening set.
Khachanov opened up a 3-1 lead in the second but couldn't sustain the pressure as Medvedev came storming back.
"Never easy to play your compatriot.I'm happy that I really managed to raise my level, particularly in the end of both sets and really happy to be through to the semis," said third-seeded Medvedev.
"I'm playing well right now and honestly that's all that matters."
Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka also progressed, outlasting Australian Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (8/10), 6-2 to continue his fine early season form, having already upset world number 11 Holger Rune.
It set up a semi-final against American Sebastian Korda after his 7-5, 6-1 win over sixth seed Jannik Sinner 7-5, 6-1, who received treatment to his hip at the end of the first set and appeared hampered in the second.
Jabeur headlines women's winners
Women's top seed Ons Jabeur went 3-0 behind in the first set against Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, but rallied to win 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.
"I didn't start the way I wanted to...I just kept telling myself to put two or three balls in to get in the game," said Jabeur."I'm pretty happy I didn't go three sets with her."
The Tunisian will take on rising Czech teen Linda Noskova for a place in the final after she outlasted veteran Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (8/6).
World number five Aryna Sabalenka held off Marketa Vondrousova to book her place in the last four.
The Belarusian overcame hot conditions to dismiss her Czech opponent 6-3, 7-5 and continue her strong 2022 late-season form where she finished runner-up at the WTA Finals.
The second seed's reward is a last-four clash with Romanian veteran Irina-Camelia Begu, who upset Russian world number nine Veronika Kudermetova 7-5, 6-4.
"I think because I'm staying really calm and I feel like I'm at home here, that's why I play really well," said Sabalenka."I haven't dropped a set yet.Hopefully, I'll keep going like that."
The Australian Open starts in less than two weeks.
