Local hopes of a singles title at the Australian Open may be dashed, but home favourites are still fighting for silverware across the women’s doubles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and quad doubles competitions.

Sam Stosur took a big step towards grand slam success on Wednesday evening, pairing up with China’s Zhang Shuai for a 7-5 4-6 7-5 women’s doubles semi-final triumph over Czech pair Barbora Strycova and Marketa Vondrousova.

An early retirement in the Novak Djokovic-Kei Nishikori clash ensured a big crowd watched on at Rod Laver Arena as Stosur and Zhang edged a see-sawing contest.

The match, which featured 15 breaks of serve, lasted two hours and 36 minutes and sets up a final between Stosur and Zhang and second seeds Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic.

The decider will be played on Friday afternoon.

Stosur has won one grand slam title at Melbourne Park, teaming up with compatriot Scott Draper to win the mixed doubles in 2005.

She lost the 2006 women’s doubles final when playing with American Lisa Raymond.

Also on Wednesday, Australian John Peers teamed up with Finland’s Henri Kontinen to reach the semi-finals of the men’s doubles.

Doubles specialist Peers – selected in Australia’s Davis Cup team for next month’s tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina – and Kontinen are seeded 12th but sent third seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares packing 6-3 6-4 in just 67 minutes.

Peers and Kontinen will take on Joao Sousa and Leonardo Mayer on Rod Laver Arena in Thursday’s day session for a spot in the final.

THEY'VE DONE IT!

Aussie wildcards Astra Sharma and JP Smith can hardly believe it, but they're through to the semi-finals at the Australian Open 👏#AusOpen #9WWOS pic.twitter.com/CZz7oN96rF

— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 23, 2019

Astra Sharma and John-Patrick Smith will play on centre court on Thursday, too, the Australian pair featuring in the night session in their mixed doubles semi-final.

Sharma and Smith beat American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Brit Jamie Murray 6-2 7-6 (7-5) in their quarter-final on Wednesday.

Next up for the local duo, who are wildcards, is a clash against second seeds Nicole Melichar and Bruno Soares.

Alcott progresses, too

Round 1 win in the books. On to the next one… 11am singles court 8 and 330pm doubles on Margaret Court Arena. Let’s get it! #ausopen @AustralianOpen @wwos pic.twitter.com/wNv1GQP8Td

— Dylan Alcott (@DylanAlcott) January 23, 2019

Dylan Alcott, who is doing a terrific job as part of Nine Network’s coverage of the Open, will contest a final of his own on Thursday.

Alcott and fellow Aussie Heath Davidson will take on American David Wagner and Brit Andy Lapthorne in the quad doubles final on Margaret Court Arena.

Alcott will also play a quad wheelchair singles match on Thursday, taking on Wagner in the third round.

Passing Shots

Our wrap-up of the weird and wonderful on day 10 at the Open starts with Lucas Pouille’s post-match interview.

Pouille was quizzed about his new coach, Amelie Mauresmo, and his words resonated – both with the crowd and on social media.

"She knows everything about tennis. It's not about being a woman or a man."

– @la_pouille on new coach @AmeMauresmo 🙏#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/AhbhZuVIH2

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2019

John McEnroe asked Pouille if more players should have female coaches and the Frenchman responded: “Well they should.

“She has the right set of mind. She knows everything about tennis. It’s not about being a woman or a man. 

“It doesn’t matter. You just have to know what you’re doing and she does.”

The accent … 

Djokovic tried his hand at an Australian accent after his win over Nishikori.

You be the judge …

If Australian citizenship was based on the Aussie accent, we're not sure world No.1 @DjokerNole would pass 🤨😂#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/nWrPE97XRk

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2019

I’m A Celebrity, Get Me … To The Tennis

A who’s who of entertainment, politics and sport will be at the tennis on Thursday, with Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban and Julie Bishop headlining the big-name guests for the day session.

Rosie Batty, Alan Joyce, Stephanie Gilmore, Eddie McGuire and Magda Szubanski will also be at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday.

The big names will be there for the evening session, too, with Rod Laver to be joined by the likes of Baz Luhrmann, rugby league legend Cameron Smith, cricketer Aaron Finch and AFL stars Jaeger O’Meara, Joel Selwood and Nathan Jones.

The celebration

How is this for joy?

Karolina Pliskova's husband Michal Hrdlicka was just a bit fired up after his wife beat Serena Williams. #AusOpenpic.twitter.com/qNSyfbLJzO

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 23, 2019