McHugh Australian Open semi suspended due to rain

The 17-year-old, battling number six seed Chun Hsin Tseng from Taipei, was a set down but a break up when play was suspended.

It was frustrating for the unseeded Scot who had just come storming back into a match which was threatening to run away from him.

Both players struggled to hold serve in the early stages.

McHugh broke Tseng in the very first game, only to be broken right back and the Bearsden player then did likewise, dropping his serve to go 3-1 down and then breaking back to love.

The decisive point came in the eighth game when Tseng broke to go 5-3 up and then - after a titanic five-deuce game - won the set 6-3 on his fourth set point.

An early break to go 2-1 up in the second set appeared to put the Taipei player in control and on course for the final against America's Sebastian Korda.

But McHugh came roaring back with three games in a row.

A break got things back to 2-2, powerful backhand and forehand winners ensured a hold and another break put the Scot a break up and on course to square the match.

The momentum had swung in McHugh's favour - but then the rain came and play had to be suspended.