AFP Sports Agenda for Thursday, February 18 (all times GMT): + Serena faces Osaka for place in Australian Open final + Eight-time champion Djokovic takes on qualifier Karatsev in men's semis + Man Utd at Real Sociedad in Europa League + IPL auction takes place + Shiffrin eyes women's giant slalom world title TENNIS -- Women's semi-finals day at the Australian Open with Serena Williams taking on Naomi Osaka and Karolina Muchova up against Jennifer Brady, while world number one Novak Djokovic meets qualifier Aslan Karatsev in the men's last four (from 0300). Coverage by Martin Parry. Picture (TENNIS-AUS-OPEN) FOOTBALL -- UEFA Europa League last 32, first legs including Red Star Belgrade v AC Milan, Real Sociedad v Manchester United (both 1755), Benfica v Arsenal and Lille v Ajax (both 2000). Picture (FBL-EUR-C3) CRICKET -- Auction for the 2021 Indian Premier League takes place in Chennai with 292 players under the hammer (CRICKET-IND-IPL) ALPINE SKIING -- Women's giant slalom at the ski world championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo with Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin chasing the title. (0900/1230). Coverage by Luke Phillips. Picture (SKI-WORLD-ITA) GOLF -- Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy are among the challengers teeing off in the opening round of the PGA Tour tournament at Pacific Palisades. Picture (GOLF-USPGA) BASKETBALL -- NBA regular season with three games including Miami Heat at Sacramento Kings (0300 Friday). Picture (BASKET-NBA) afp