Bouchard 1st Canadian to reach Australian Open semis

Eugenie Bouchard is the first Canadian to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in 30 years after a stunning upset of Ana Ivanovic at the Australian Open.

Bouchard, the 30th seed, overcame Ivanovic 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 on Monday, making the Montreal native just the second Canadian to ever compete in a Grand Slam singles semi.

The last Canadian to go to the semis at a major was Toronto's Carling Bassett at the 1984 U.S. Open.

Bouchard's final-four spot is the first for a Canadian in Melbourne. The 19-year-old did it in just under two and a half hours.

"We had a tough match, she was playing well at times," said Bouchard. "When she did there was not much I could do. I kept fighting, played aggressive and stepped it up in the second and third sets.

"The most important thing is to enjoy it out there and that's what I've been doing. I tried to stay calm and go for my short, that's when I play my best."

Bouchard will play next against China's Li Na, the fourth seed, after the former French Open champion defeated Italy's Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-2.

"I played (Na) in Montreal in 2012, we had a tough battle but I was not so experienced back then," said Bouchard. "This time I'll be ready. She won't give me many chances so I'll have to take any that I get."

Bouchard's ranking should rise into the top 20 as a result of her success, according to WTA calculations. She also beat Ivanovic, a former world No. 1, last year in the second round of Wimbledon.