BRITISH pair Olivia Nicholls and Henry Patten reached their first grand slam semi-final together in mixed doubles at the Australian Open.

Nicholls and Patten, who is also through to the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles, defeated Russian Irina Khromacheva and American Jackson Withrow 6-2 6-2.

Three British girls have reached the third round of the singles, with Hannah Klugman and Brooke Black joining Mingge Xu, who won her second-round match on Monday.