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Things are really heating up at the Australian Open.

The women’s semi-finalists have now been decided, with a mouthwatering clash between 10th seed Serena Williams and third seed Naomi Osaka set for early tomorrow morning SA time.

In the other semi-final, 25th seed Karolína Muchová will take on 22nd seed Jennifer Brady.

Thus far, one men’s semi-final has been confirmed, with top seed Novak Djokovic taking on Russian outsider and world number 114 Aslan Karatsev, who is playing in his first-ever Grand Slam.

I don’t think there’s much debate over who the neutrals will be rooting for, especially when you consider some of Djokovic’s antics of late.

The Serb and Ozzie Kick Kyrgios are still having verbal jousts, and during Djokovic’s quarter-final win over Alexander Zverev, he went berserk on his racquet.

With the match tied at one set apiece, and Djokovic down a break in the third, he really lost his rag.

It’s not a good look for somebody who’s becoming an increasingly polarising figure in the sport:

Every angle of Novak Djokovic completely destroying his racquet which left the court damaged. 🔥🔥🔥

WATCH: @Channel9
STREAM: https://t.co/7uAf53PWTv #9WWOS #AusOpen #AO2021 pic.twitter.com/hn5irHYwS0

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 16, 2021

If that doesn’t work, here’s some additional footage:

The court was actually slightly damaged during the beating, and a ballgirl ran on to sweep up the broken remains of Djokovic’s racquet.

I suppose he may argue that it worked, as Djokovic recovered to win the third and fourth sets on his way to a 6-7 (6), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory.

He had this to say after the match, via Tennishead:

“It was a relief, but I wouldn’t recommend it,” Novak Djokovic said after the match. “Of course, I am not proud of that, but you go through a lot of different emotions, inside battles.

“To me, it happens and today it helped me. It was an accumulation of a lot of things.

“I regained my concentration after I broke my racket. Things started to change a bit for me.”

In the other men’s semi-final, Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev will face the winner of the quarter-final between Rafa Nadal and the awkward Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.

That match is set to start around 10:30AM SA time.

Vamos, Rafa.

[sources:bleacherreport&tennishead]