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Top 5 Photos, 1/28: Djokovic pays tribute to Kobe

By Jordaan Sanford

It was a day filled with nail-biting action. Some top players advanced unscathed while others were pushed to overcome hurdles to reach the finish line. Here are the Top 5 photos from Day 9 in Melbourne. (All photos from Getty Images.)

1

Novak Djokovic was in tears following his  6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (1) win over Milos Raonic. Djokovic considered NBA legend Kobe Bryant both a friend and a mentor. He wore a jacket with Bryant's initials and jersey numbers. Djokovic will face rival Roger Federer in the semifinals.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Novak Djokovic of Serbia cries while talking about the death of Kobe Bryant after winning his Men’s Singles Quarterfinal match against Milos Raonic of Canada on day nine of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

2

Top-ranked Ashleigh Barty came out on top on Day 9 against two-time Grand Slam champion Petra Kvitova. Barty posted a 7-6 (6), 6-2 win over the Czech to set up a semifinal meeting with Sofia Kenin. Barty leads in their head-to-head record, 4-1.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Ashleigh Barty of Australia is interviewed by Jim Courier following her Women's Singles Quarterfinal match against Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic on day nine of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

3

Roger Federer has turned into the Harry Houdini of tennis. Federer dug deep to save seven match points and somehow defeat Tennys Sandgren 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6 (8), 6-3. Federer is into his 15th Australian Open semifinal and will face Djokovic for the 50th time.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a backhand during his Men’s Singles Quarterfinal match against Tennys Sandgren of the United States on day nine of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

4

Kenin continued her breakthrough run by becoming the first player to book a spot in the Australian Open semifinals. The American defeated Ons Jabeur, 6-4, 6-4, to set up a semifinal clash with world No. 1 Barty.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Sofia Kenin of the United States celebrates winning match point during her Women's Singles Quarterfinal match against Ons Jabeur of Tunisia on day nine of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

5

Australians Max Purcell and Luke Saville are having a great week down under. The pair posted a 6-2, 6-4 score against Ken Skupski and Santiago Gonzalez to advance to the semifinals. Purcell and Saville are undefeated in 2020 having captured the ATP Challenger title in Bendigo a few weeks ago.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Max Purcell and Luke Saville of Australia play during their quarter final match against Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico and Ken Skupski of Great Britain on day nine of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
© Getty Images