Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis continue to pack the home fans in – and win – in doubles at Australian Open 2022.
MORE: All the scores from Day 9 at AO 2022
The Australian wildcard pairing moved into the men's doubles semifinals with a 7-5 3-6 6-3 win over sixth seeds Tim Puetz and Michael Venus at a jammed Kia Arena on Tuesday.
"These guys are really good," Kokkinakis told reporters after the match.
MORE: AO 2022 men's doubles draw
"Everyone we play now, everyone we have played since we started, really good opponents.
"We're stoked with this win. We came big in the big points. Obviously the guys are experienced veterans but we're going to keep playing how we play, enjoy it, have fun, and use the crowd."
Few would discount a title for the friends, especially since Kyrgios and Kokkinakis ousted top seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the second round.
It would mark the first time a men's wildcard duo have triumphed at Melbourne Park, according to the ITF.
They blasted 25 aces as a team on Tuesday and saved six of seven break points despite Kyrgios claiming he only knows their opponents when he steps on court.
He might have been joking – or maybe not.
But more certain is that Kyrgios endeared himself to the spectators courtside when he gave a boy a racquet after his errant shot inadvertently struck the young fan as he looked on.
"This Oz Open, honestly, I think for us it's more about the people, playing for them is more important than our doubles success," Kyrgios said.
"We haven't drawn up any goals of what we want to achieve this year in doubles. I just want to play and give the people of Australia and the Australian Open a show and genuinely try and grow the sport of tennis.
"That's why I'm playing. I know Thanasi is just enjoying it. This is the most fun we've ever had on the court."
Kyrgios didn't discount joining up with Kokkinakis for more doubles later in the season, particularly at the US Open.
In Melbourne, their attention next turns to third seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos, finalists together at Wimbledon and the US Open.
They defeated Melbourne native John Peers and Filip Polasek – both winners in doubles at the Australian Open with different partners – 7-6(5) 6-4.
Cinderella run continues
The surprise pairing in women's doubles could be Anna Danilina – contesting just her second Grand Slam – and Beatriz Haddad Maia. They rallied from a set and break down to beat another unseeded team, though one more experienced, in Rebecca Peterson and Anastasia Potapova 4-6 7-5 6-3.
MORE: AO 2022 women's doubles draw
Second seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara await in the last four. The Japanese duo, aiming for a first crown at a major, defeated Petra Martic and Shelby Rogers 6-1 6-4.
More Aussie wildcard success
Shibahara didn't fare as well in the mixed doubles quarterfinals, but Peers picked up a victory. Shibahara and Ben Mclachlan fell to second seeds Zhang Shuai and Peers 6-4 6-4.
Grand Slam doubles champions Ivan Dodig and Kristina Mladenovic – who topped Eric Routliffe and Venus 6-4 6-2 – are their next opponents.
MORE: AO 2022 mixed doubles draw
The second semifinal will feature another Australian wildcard team after Jaimee Fourlis and Jason Kubler upset Sania Mirza and Rajeev Ram 6-4 7-6(5) in Mirza's final year on tour.
Fourlis and Kubler challenge Lucie Hradecka and Gonzalo Escobar, who went through 7-5 7-5 against Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Makoto Ninomiya.