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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Katy Murrells (night session), Joey Lynch, Jonathan Howcroft and James Wallace (earlier)

Australian Open 2025: Draper beats Vukic in another five-set thriller – as it happened

Zverev Learner Tien Australian Open United States Aryna Sabalenka Daniil Medvedev Melbourne Park
Jack Draper celebrates after defeating Aleksandar Vukic.
Jack Draper celebrates after defeating Aleksandar Vukic. Photograph: Vincent Thian/AP

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Right, phew. That’s it from us for today, but do join us again tomorrow for Emma Raducanu v Iga Swiatek, while Jannik Sinner, Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina are all in action. Thanks for your company and comments. Bye!

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So next up for Draper is the unenviable assignment of facing Alcaraz in the last 16. That would be a hard enough task, even if Draper didn’t already have 15 sets on the clock after only three rounds. How Draper is able to physically recover will be crucial. He will, at least, be buoyed by the fact he has beaten Alcaraz before, at Queen’s last year.

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Draper resists goading the crowd like Danielle “you pay my bills” Collins did yesterday after beating Australia’s Destanee Aiava. “He came back from the dead,” Draper says of Vukic’s fifth-set comeback. “It was just a great battle. That’s what sport is all about. My body doesn’t feel too great, it’s lucky I’ve got a good physio. I don’t want to think about [facing] Alcaraz yet. But hopefully it’ll be a great match and my body holds up.” He’s applauded by the remaining spectators, despite probably being public enemy No 1 in Melbourne after his second straight win over a home player.

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Jack Draper (15) beats Aleksandar Vukic 6-4, 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (8)

This MP is on Draper’s serve, however, and he takes a little longer before serving, blowing on his sweaty hand. It does the trick, as a huge first serve gets the job done. For the third successive match he’s come from two sets to one down and he’s through to last 16 for first time! What a scrap. He doesn’t cup his ear to the crowd, as he did after defeating Kokkinakis in the second round. He looks too tired for that. He wearily waves to the spectators, as Vukic departs to huge applause from his home crowd, as he should. What a performance from him.

Jack Draper celebrates after defeating Aleksandar Vukic.
Jack Draper celebrates on match point. Photograph: Vincent Thian/AP

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Both men are trying to give absolutely everything they have left after nearly four hours of play, as Draper moves to 8-7. Now Vukic has two points on his racket … but he can’t get to the drop shot in time and is only able to prod into the net! Draper has two match points at 9-7 … but he snatches at the return! 9-8 …

Draper takes a second straight point on the Vukic serve for 7-6 … but blinks on the backhand! 7-7 …

Vukic surrenders the mini-break immediately, as Draper absolutely hurtles to the net to put away the winner. Though did his foot touch the net, in which case Draper concedes the point? It was perilously close, but the umpire gives him the point for 6-6 …

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Draper produces a big serve of his own for 5-5, a longer rally plays out on the next point, and Vukic conjures up the perfect drop shot! The Australian leads 6-5 – but he doesn’t have match point yet, he’s got to get to 10 …

Draper must have his heart in his mouth on the next point as his shot looks to be flying beyond the baseline, but it has just enough topspin on it to drop in. 4-3 Draper, then Vukic rattles off two quick points on serve to lead 5-4 …

A cross-court exchange, Vukic’s backhand to the lefty Draper’s forehand, ensues, and it’s Draper who blinks first. 3-3 at the change of ends …

Vukic gets on the board for 3-1, and drags Draper all over the place for 3-2, but it’s Draper who still has the mini-break …

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It’s first blood to Draper in the breaker, as he claims the mini-break, before two snarling serves back it up for 3-0 …

The umpire chastises the crowd for their rowdiness. Good luck with getting them to calm down now. Draper wins an engaging first point, Vukic produces a superb return on the second point but it’s not enough. 30-0. The umpire again rebukes the spectators. 40-0. Game. A tie-break will settle this one – and it’s first to ten points. Who’s going to win? The way this match has veered one way and then the other, I have absolutely no clue.

In this anything but straightforward match, Vukic appears to be on course for a straightforward hold at 40-15, but Draper comes back for 40-30. Vukic, moving with zip and hitting with such power now, having looked down and out earlier in the fifth set, chases down the short ball and Draper isn’t getting that back! Vukic leads 6-5 and is once again a game away. Will Vukic break for victory or will we have a deciding tie-break? Let’s find out …

Draper isn’t at all obliging, though. 15-0, 30-0, 40-0, game. 5-5. Back to you, Aleksandar …

How quickly tennis can change. From Draper having break points to make it 4-1, he’s now behind and trying to halt Vukic’s surge, which he does with a cool forehand winner down the line for a 15 hold to make it 4-4. But Draper can’t do any damage on Vukic’s serve, the Australian holds to 30 and springs up from his chair to stirring screams from the crowd, as he attempts to break Draper to seal the biggest win of his career …

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Vukic is whipping the crowd into an Australian frenzy as he slam dunks for 40-0, Pete Sampras style, as he launches himself into the Melbourne skies, at least two feet off the ground. Remarkable. How has the 28-year-old not done more during his career, given this performance? This is his first time in the third round of a slam, remember. And he holds to 15 for 4-3!

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Vukic, so subdued a few games ago, is now jumping on the baseline as he gets to 0-30. He’s then running around the court and waving his arm in the air repeatedly when he brings up 0-40. Draper repels the first two break points but he can’t do anything about the third … as Vukic gobbles up Draper’s drop shot to pass! From it very nearly being 4-1 Draper it’s 3-3. This. Match. Is. Definitely. Not. Over. Yet.

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… advantage Draper, a third break point. A lightning quick serve out wide snuffs out this one. Draper, running to his left, flicks his wrist and curls his forehand around the net for a perfect pass! PlayStation tennis, that. Advantage Draper. Deuce. Advantage Vukic. Game. After saving four break points, Vukic holds. He’s still a break down at 3-2, but he’s hanging on.

Draper grabs for an ice towel at the changeover, a surprising choice at past midnight. No danger of it cooling his momentum though, as he moves to 40-15. And game, as he dispatches a forehand winner deep into Vukic’s left corner. That’s the break backed up … and Draper is in lockdown mode now, sprinting to 0-30, with a tiring Vukic looking off the pace. That’s soon 15-40 … then 30-40 … Vukic is brave, as he was on the break point in the previous game, and this time his shot does land! Deuce …

A quick leg stretch for me, and when I return it’s 1-1 in the decider. This is the only match still taking place, as the clock ticks beyond midnight in Melbourne. Not that the crowd are leaving, they’ve invested too much in this match to depart now, even though the smart money would be on Draper to complete the job from here. Draper gets the first chance to break when Vukic tiredly hits into the net. 30-40. But Draper is only three out of 13 on break points. Can he convert? Yes, because Vukic goes for broke and whacks into the tramlines!

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If you’re just joining us, a recap of what’s already happened at Melbourne Park on day six:

“One thing Jack is starting to resemble Andy Murray in, is his fitness,” emails David Hindle. “He has held up brilliantly during this run of long matches. He still looks fine. More of that, in any case!” True, David. And another way in which Draper stirs memories of Murray is in putting his British fans through the wringer…

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Draper’s defence is superb, he somehow gets the ball back, it hangs in the air for what feels like the length of this match (two hours 52 minutes now), but Vukic nervelessly slams down the smash! 5-5 … 6-5 Draper, and the set point is on his serve … and Draper serve-volleys his way to the fourth set! For the third successive match, Draper is going the distance, after winning a set he didn’t have much right to. Vukic hit 23 winners, won 80% of first-serve points, but the Australian couldn’t get the job done.

The fans, while of course cheering for Vukic, are showing Draper some respect though, it has to be said, despite his ear cupping at the end of his victory over Kokkinakis the other day. Draper then attempts to net rush without success. 4-3 Vukic, then 4-4, and 5-4 Draper when Vukic hits high and wide …

Vukic concedes the mini-break immediately, as the umpire sternly tells the crowd to stop screaming before the players serve. Hmm, not sure they’re going to listen, especially when their man is so close to victory. Draper edges to 3-2, and they change ends at 3-3 …

1-0 Draper, who must win this breaker to extend this match any further. 1-1, with Vukic doing well to control Draper’s lob. Draper has the chance to lob again, with Vukic at the nete, but instead goes for an attempted pass. Vukic shows sharp reactions to put away a winning volley for the first mini-break …

No time to dwell on Danilovic’s victory, though, because Draper, leading 6-5 on serve in the fourth set, is 0-30 up on Vukic’s serve. Vukic holds his nerve with a drop shot that catches Draper by surprise. It wasn’t the perfect drop, but Draper was too slow to respond. 15-30 becomes 30-all, and Vukic slams a forehand down the line but it whistles just wide. Draper has set point … and Vukic rips a nerveless inside-out forehand winner! Draper is screaming to Melbourne’s night skies. Deuce. Advantage Draper. Deuce. Advantage Vukic. Game Vukic. We’ve got a tie-break … which is exactly what this set deserves! If Vukic wins it, he takes the match. If Draper does, we’re going to five.

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“I’m super happy,” beams Danilovic. “She’s such a great player. I knew I had to have my A plus plus plus game to beat her. My first match on Rod Laver Arena. I don’t know what to say.” The 23-year-old world No 55 will take on Paula Badosa in the last 16.

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Olga Danilovic beats Jessica Pegula (7) 7-6 (3), 6-1

Yes Draper has been dealing with a hip injury, which affected his off-season training and forced him to cancel a training block with Alcaraz, but his movement has looked decent today, it’s his concentration that has been inconsistent. Vukic holds for 4-4, just as Danilovic looks close to taking out Pegula on Rod Laver, leading 7-6, 5-1. Danilovic has two match points at 40-15 … and the Serb can’t chase down Pegula’s drop shot! 40-30 … and Pegula is saving her best until last, coming out on top in a superb rally! Danilovic has a third match point at her advantage, and Pegula’s return goes long! The cameras pan to Djokovic, who is celebrating his fellow Serb’s victory backstage. It’s one of the upsets of the week. And the biggest victory of Danilovic’s career.

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“Vukic is, truth be told, a higher level journeyman, and the kind of player Jack Draper should be comfortably putting away at this stage in his career,” emails David Hindle. “Compare to how Murray regularly blitzed this level of player in 3 sets. And did so year after year after year in grand slams. A bit worrying, even if the recent injuries play some part.”

Gasps and laughs from the crowd as Draper turns into the showman, attempting to catch a high ball in his hands, but instead he’s left fumbling as it drops to the ground. It doesn’t distract Vukic from holding for 3-3, before Draper misjudges again, leaving Vukic’s shot which he thought was going out … but it lands in. Break point at 30-40. Deuce. Advantage Draper. Game Draper, who’s somehow hanging in and leads 4-3. The level has fluctuated, but this is an absorbing match.

The court is shrinking for Draper, who slumps 0-40 down. Could this be the beginning of the end for the Brit? No, because he quickly rediscovers his range, recovering to deuce with the help of a forehand winner and ace, and he takes the next two points as well to hold. Gutsy stuff.

After Draper’s serving wobble during the denouement of that third set, now it’s Vukic who’s double faulting, and it gives Draper two chances to break at 15-40. Vukic is c’moning after dispatching a winner. And he then lets out a yelp when Draper nets. Deuce. “Let’s go Alek, let’s go, let’s go Alek, let’s go,” chant the crowd. But they fall silent when Draper brings up a third break point. Draper flattens out his forehand but it flies well long! Deuce. Advantage Vukic. Deuce. Advantage Vukic. Game Vukic. Draper asked the questions there, but Vukic seems determined to see out this win. Vukic leads 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, 2-2.

Nothing giving on serve so far in the fourth set of Draper v Vukic. Draper holds to 30, Vukic holds from deuce and Draper holds again to 30, despite a miracle shot round the net from Vukic that had even Draper applauding. Of course the crowd don’t need any excuse to cheer their man. They’re heavily behind Vukic, as they were towards Thanasi Kokkinakis in Draper’s previous match.

Pegula had conceded only nine games coming into this match, but the seventh seed has dropped six already against Danilovic, and is three set points down in the first-set tie-break. Danilovic delivers at the first time of asking, with a backhand winner. The world No 55 leads by a set to love, taking the breaker 7-3.

Draper departs quickly to regroup. He won’t forget those two double faults at 5-5 in a hurry. He’s normally so calm, but it’s Vukic who’s showing the greater composure, even though this is the 28-year-old’s first appearance in the third round of a slam. Draper’s deepest run was to the semi-finals of the US Open last year, but even if he does find a way to survive this match, that would be three successive five-setters, so would he have enough left in the tank, especially as Alcaraz is awaiting the winner?

Instead of taking his fury out on the balls, Draper opts for a more gentle touch, dinking over a winning drop shot for 0-15. Which is soon 0-30. Draper has the chance to pass but hits well wide. So it’s 15-30. A quite ridiculous point follows, with Vukic coming forward, hitting a cross-court volley that clips the sideline, and Draper somehow conjures up a winning pass! 15-40, two break points. Draper blinks on the first. Vukic stands firm on the second. A serve bomb from Vukic, his fastest of the match, gives him a set point and has Draper smashing his racket to pieces. Draper receives a code violation for channeling his inner Medvedev. The Aussies are loving this. And Vukic is soaking up the acclaim when he secures the set with an ace! Vukic leads 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.

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Now it’s Vukic’s turn to morph into a serving machine, grabbing the game to 30 with two successive aces. There’s been nothing giving on serve in this third set; no break points at all. But just as I type that, Draper double faults! Only his second of the match! And it hands Vukic the chance to break at 30-40. Vukic is dancing on the baseline waiting to receive, the crowd are chanting their home player, and maybe it distracts Draper, because there’s another double fault! Draper will be absolutely furious with himself. Vukic will serve at 4-6, 6-2, 6-5 for a two sets to one lead!

Draper is looking to the skies when he thinks he’s produced a winning lob, but it lands long. Vukic reels off the next point to hold. The Australian then has a glimmer at 15-30 on Draper’s serve. Draper steadies himself with an ace for 30-all, and another ace makes it 40-30. And another ace gives him the game. That makes it four aces in total for the game and 17 for the match. Draper leads 5-4. How will Vukic respond? He must hold to keep this set going.

A big point for Vukic at 30-all, he could do with a big serve here. Which the Australian duly delivers. He then drills a brutal backhand down the line after a 17-shot exchange! Draper is nowhere near it. It’s 3-3 and we have a set (and a match) on our hands. With the clock reading 10.27pm in Melbourne, though, they’ve still got a way to go to rival yesterday’s (or more accurately today’s) 2.55am finish, when qualifier Learner Tien pulled off that upset against Daniil Medvedev. Draper swiftly holds for 4-3.

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Having been broken three times in the second set, Draper has rediscovered his serving groove, and sends down his 11th ace of the evening on his way to holding for 3-2 in the third. After Vukic started the match so strongly, before Draper came back to snatch the first set and Vukic ran away with the second, they’ve not really been playing well at the same time. But this third set looks much more level.

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That retirement leaves us with two singles matches: Draper v Vukic and Jessica Pegula, the US Open runner-up and three-times Australian Open quarter-finalist, against the Serbian lefty Olga Danilovic. That’s going with serve early on, Pegula leading 2-1.

After Osaka’s retirement earlier, unfortunately we’ve had another, with Fils forced to call it quits, with Humbert leading 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 1-0. Humbert has the dubious honour of facing Zverev next, who’s looked in fine touch so far. Could this finally be the year the world No 2 claims a slam? We’ve been saying it for several years now, but if he can hold his nerve, his game is good enough to step up to the winners’ circle.

And a quicker than quick service game allows Vukic to serve the set out to love! They’re level at one set all, and given their track record at this tournament, we could be in for another five sets. Sit tight.

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Draper v Vukic continues to see-saw. Vukic led 4-2 in the first set before Draper took it 6-4. Now Vukic is 5-1 ahead in the second, having broken Draper three times, with Draper’s only game coming from a break too. Draper looks as if he’s finally going to hold at 40-15, Vukick then dinks over a delightful angled volley for 40-30 but makes no further inroads in the game. Vukic will serve for the set at 5-2.

“This is as good as I’ve seen him for in quite a while,” Mats Wilander says on Eurosport about Djokovic’s quest for that historic grand slam No 25 in 2025. Will it be enough to beat the young guard though? He’ll be the heavy favourite against Lehecka in the last 16 … but Carlos Alcaraz could be waiting in the quarter-finals. Djokovic looks hungry and focused, that’s for sure, and perhaps his determination to claim that final piece of tennis history could get him over the line against Alcaraz, as it did in last year’s Olympic final.

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“This is definitely the best match I’ve played in this tournament,” a beaming Djokovic says on court. He’s then asked why he called for the trainer. “I was trying to catch my breath. I’m not 19 any more. I’m nearly 19 times two.” He then exchanges some banter with a boisterous fan, whom he had a bit of back and forth with during the match. “Let’s have a drink, one drink will solve everything,” he quips.

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Novak Djokovic (7) beats Tomas Machac (26) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4

Another jarring, screeching shift in momentum as Vukic breaks Draper for 1-0 in the second, just as Djokovic brings up three match points at 40-0. But even Djokovic’s defence can’t survive a massive Machac forehand. Machac decides to charge forward on the second match point, but it’s high risk, and Djokovic pulls off the pass! Djokovic has his arms in the air and is then blowing kisses to his Rod Laver kingdom, the court where he’s won this title ten times. He’ll be happy with that performance; it was much more assured than his first two rounds.

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Draper, from 4-2 down, has got himself two set points at 5-4, 15-40 on Vukic’s serve, after a bullet of a forehand down the line. The Brit shows superb touch on the second, ending a lengthy exchange with a cute drop shot, and he’s taken four games on the spin to seize the set 6-4!

Lehecka finishes the job against Bonzi, winning 6-2, 6-3, 6-3, and awaits the winner of Djokovic v Machac, as Djokovic holds for 6-1, 6-4, 5-3.

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What of Djokovic, you say. After an early break in the third, he holds to love for 6-1, 6-4, 4-2 against Machac. And the Czech is close to um, czeching out when he drops 30-40 down. A double break would leave Djokovic serving for the match. Machac hauls himself to deuce with an ace, then brings up game point. Djokovic bounces his racket on the court in frustration. He’s then cursing and giving himself a very stern talking to when Machac takes the game. He seems to spare Murray from his anger though.

Draper is up and running (if that’s the right word, after back-to-back five setters) against Vukic, getting a few games on the board, but he still trails by a break, with Vukic serving at 4-3. Draper decides it’s time to really get going, moving 0-30 ahead, then 0-40 when Vukic fires long. And Vukic coughs up a double fault! It’s 4-4.

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Tumaini’s piece on Fearnley, Draper and their childhood friendship is also well worth a read:

As is Simon Cambers’s preview of Vukic v Draper:

Draper is the last British survivor in the men’s singles after Jacob Fearnley’s run was ended by Alexander Zverev earlier in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Fearnley will still take much from reaching the third round, especially as the 23-year-old hadn’t even played a slam and didn’t have a world ranking just over a year ago; his rise has been one of the quickest (and most unexpected) in ATP history.

“I learned a lot about my game, about what I need to do better,” Fearnley said after the loss to Zverev. “I’ve learned a lot. To have these kind of matches seven months, eight months into my professional career is extremely valuable.”

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Gauff’s victory means that Jack Draper and Aleksandar Vukic will round off the day’s programme on Margaret Court. A few boos for Draper as he stepped on to court, but some cheers too, as the British No 1 faces an Australian (and the crowd) for the second consecutive match, after edging out Thanasi Kokkinakis in five sets in round two. Vukic also needed five sets to advance against Sebastian Korda … but he’s not showing any fatigue here, charging into a 2-0 lead, breaking Draper to 30 before holding to love.

As for the other two Frenchmen in action… they’ve traded sets, with Humbert, six years Fils’s senior, not that you’d know it from his bat-to-front cap, taking the second set 7-5 having lost the first 6-4.

Djokovic is serving for a two sets to love lead against Machac, leading 6-1, 5-4. It’s not going to plan, though, with the 37-year-old break point down at 30-40. Then Djokovic remembers who he is, stepping up in the clutch moment to secure three points on the spin, the last with an ace down the middle. He’s 6-1, 6-4 up and is a set away from a fourth-round meeting with most likely another Czech opponent, Jiri Lehecka, who is also two sets to the good, 6-2, 6-3, against the Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.

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Impressive stuff from Gauff (both her tennis and words), and next up for the American in the last 16 is Belinda Bencic, who was leading Naomi Osaka 7-6 earlier when the two-times champion retired injured. Gutting for Osaka, who was playing in the third round of a slam for the first time since returning from maternity leave a year ago. I’d have loved for Osaka to go deep in the draw here – but it’s great to see Bencic doing well too. The Swiss is on a comeback of her own, having given birth to her daughter Bella last year.

Gauff is asked in the on-court interview if it was easier or harder to play Fernandez so soon after their recent match at the United Cup. “Definitely harder,” Gauff replies. She’s then asked about her Vogue covers and being the highest-paid female athlete in the world. How can she focus on her tennis? She says she stays humble by volunteering in her local community and that she loves using her platform to give back to others. How is she still only 20?! She’s so assured and impressive. She’s then asked about her Marvel-inspired bodysuit. Apparently it’s quite difficult to use the bathroom. “Too much, sorry guys,” she laughs.

Coco Gauff (3) beats Leylah Fernandez (30) 6-4, 6-2

Gauff is serving for the match at 6-4, 5-2. At 30-0, Fernandez nets a return. So three match points. Gauff benefits from a little luck on the first, as her shot clips the tape and goes over … Fernandez runs forward to retrieve but is lobbed … and can’t get the ball back into play! Gauff, last year’s semi-finalist, stretches her unbeaten start to 2025 to eight matches and 16 sets.

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Machac, the wearer of quite possibly the shortest shorts in tennis, surrenders the longest rally of the match, as Djokovic eventually smacks away the winner after a lung-busting exchange. It’s break point Djokovic. And a much speedier point makes it break Djokovic. The ten-times champion leads 6-1, 3-2.

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Djokovic opts against an injury timeout so they’re back under way, just as some big hitting from Gauff gets her to 6-4, 4-1. Humbert now leads Fils 4-2 in the second set, having lost the first, while Jiri Lehecka, who’s on a seven-match winning streak after claiming the title in Brisbane, looks well placed to make it eight, leading Benjamin Bonzi 6-2, 3-1.

Game on, on Rod Laver! Machac, slipping and squeaking all over the baseline before sliding into the net and drawing the error from Djokovic, breaks for 2-0 in the second set! Though he promptly undoes all his good work by being broken to 15. Gah. This time Murray is more animated, letting out a scream and an aggressive fist pump. But now Djokovic is calling for the trainer. It’s not clear what the issue is – he has been breathing quite heavily – and the microphones can’t pick up the conversation between the two.

The sun may be setting in Melbourne, but Gauff, clad in bright yellow, is providing plenty of shine on Margaret Court, where she’s threatening to run away with it against Fernandez. The third seed, who has 20 wins from her past 22 matches – including against Fernandez at the recent United Cup – now leads 6-4, 3-0 with the double break.

Humbert, having lost the first set 6-4 to his compatriot Fils, is providing some French resistance, taking a 2-0 lead in the second. Though it’s taken nearly 13 minutes to play those two games. Fils then throws in a quick hold to give them both a breather.

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A third straight miss on the forehand from Gauff – it’s still her most fallible shot – helps Fernandez gets herself out of a hole from set point down at 30-40. Gauff will still get the chance to serve for the set though, and swiftly moves 30-0 ahead. Make that 40-0. She’s won 14 of 16 points when her first serve has landed. But it’s a second serve that Fernandez can’t get back into play on the second set point and Gauff holds to 15 to take the set 6-4!

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Gauff holds in the blink of an eye for 5-3. Djokovic takes a little longer to serve out the set, dropping 30-40 down, before a strong serve and an overhead give him set point. Machac whacks his return into the net and that’s that. Djokovic wins the first set 6-1 in just 35 minutes. Murray applauds and gives a half-hearted fist pump. I guess the first set was too straightforward to warrant a more committed one.

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Machac just can’t get going on serve. This time he slumps 0-40 down. Djokovic prevails in the next point too and he’ll serve for the set at 5-1. Meanwhile Gauff emerges victorious after an absorbing 26-shot rally to get back to deuce on Fernandez’s serve … and from there Gauff breaks! The third seed leads 4-3.

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Two more break points for Djokovic at 15-40, to add to the ones he had in Machac’s opening service game. This time he takes the second, as Machac makes the error on the backhand side. It’s 3-1 Djokovic, and he’s looking much sharper than he did in his opening two matches. Murray looks on approvingly, before Djokovic backs up the break for 4-1.

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On John Cain, the young phenomenon Fils is serving for the opening set at 5-3 against Humbert. It doesn’t go quite to plan, as the 20-year-old slides 30-40 down, and then Humbert, his fellow Frenchman, picks him off with a backhand pass down the line! It’s 5-4 Fils.

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On Margaret Court Arena, in the match between the 2023 US Open champion and the 2021 runner-up, Gauff flumps a forehand into the net and it’s deuce, with Fernandez leading 2-1 on serve. Gauff quickly makes up for her error by taking the next two points to hold. It’s 2-2.

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From 0-40 down, Machac holds his opening service game. The camera pans to Andy Murray in the coaching box – or more accurately the new courtside coaching pod - for the first of probably 9,337 times today. He’s sitting there quite impassively as the moment. No chattering or chuntering, like in his playing days. Maybe that’ll come later.

Djokovic will need to step it up a level today. The 10-times champion has not been convincing so far, dropping a set in both the first and second rounds against opponents ranked outside the world’s top 100. And it takes him five minutes to secure the opening game on serve here. Machac has beaten Djokovic before, by the way, in the semi-finals of the Geneva Open last year, but that was best of three sets. The 24-year-old Czech has the ability, he boasts so much power, but can he keep it together over the course of five potential sets?

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Night session order of play

ROD LAVER ARENA (8am GMT/7pm AEDT)
7-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) v 26-Tomas Machac (Czech Republic)
Olga Danilovic (Serbia) v 7-Jessica Pegula (US)
MARGARET COURT ARENA (8am GMT/7pm AEDT)
3-Coco Gauff (U.S.) v 30-Leylah Fernandez (Canada)
15-Jack Draper (Britain) v Aleksandar Vukic (Australia)
JOHN CAIN ARENA
14-Ugo Humbert (France) 2-2 20-Arthur Fils (France)
KIA ARENA
24-Jiri Lehecka (Czech Republic) v Benjamin Bonzi (France)

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina beats Jakub Mensik 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-2

Davidovich Fokina saved two match points in the third-set tie-break before pulling off his Houdini act, having also come from two sets to love down in the second round. He’s so exhausted he doesn’t even seem to remember those match points when he’s interviewed on court. “I’m a little bit tired. First two sets I wasn’t playing good. Very happy to come back,” he says. Next up for him in the last 16 is the American 12th seed Tommy Paul.

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Thanks Joey and g’day/good afternoon/good evening everyone, depending on your whereabouts. Right, let’s get this evening session started. Novak Djokovic is about to get going against Tomas Machac on Rod Laver, Coco Gauff will be under way against Leylah Fernandez very shortly, Arthur Fils has taken the opening game on serve in his all-French affair with Ugo Humbert …. but let’s go straight to the Kia Arena, where Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has three match points against Jakub Mensik. And just the one MP will do as the Spaniard ends the young Czech’s run with an ace! Which I’m quite relieved about, to be honest, as I didn’t fancy having to type out Davidovich Fokina’s name too many times.

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Maybe not, as Menšík breaks back to make sure that Davidovich Fokina knows this won’t all go his way.

Or maybe yes as the Spaniard promptly breaks back and will now have the chance to serve this third round epic out! And boy did he love that one, roaring a huge “come on!” to the crowd.

That, however, is where I’ll leave you. It’s been a pleasure having you for company over these past few hours and I’ll now leave you in the very capable hands of Katy Murrells to wrap this one up and take you through the evening play.

Menšík gets on the board at last, holding serve for the first time in three attempts. Nonetheless, the look on his face suggests he’s coming to terms with a game that he once had match point on slipping through his fingers.

The crowd is now well and truly behind Davidovich Fokina as he looks to complete the comeback; the commentators noting that a fan in a Manchester United shirt cheering him on hasn’t had much to be happy about as of late. Bantz.

WOW. By the barest of margins, Davidovich Fokina fires a huge forearm winner past Menšík and keeps it just inside the baseline to break the Czech once more.

He’s now up three games to love in this fifth and decisive set and it’s difficult to see him giving the lead up from here.

Tumaini Carayol was out at Margaret Court Arena to watch Alexander Zverev make light work of Jacob Fearnley on his way to the fourth round.

It took just 20 minutes into one of the most significant occasions of Jacob Fearnley’s uncommonly short professional tennis career for the 23-year-old to receive evidence of the soaring level required to consistently trouble the very best tennis players in the world.

All the momentum is with Davidovich Fokina as he breaks Menšík in the first game of the fifth set and, for the first time in this match, gets his nose ahead.

A powerful serve right into his breadbasket gives Menšík little scope to do anything other than scoop the ball out and give up two set points, only one of which Davidovich Fokina needs as he ties this game up and forces a fifth set.

It’s the second straight match that the Spaniard has dropped the opening two sets only to force his way back, having beaten Canadian 29th need Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7 (6-9) 6-7 (7-5) 6-4 6-1 6-3 in the second round.

For Menšík, it’s pretty much been downhill ever since I wrote he was about to wrap this game up. Sorry mate.

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Menšík drops just a single point as he holds serve but must now break Davidovich Fokina if he’s to avoid – having had the chance to serve for the match in the third -- being taken to a fifth and deciding set.

What a shot from Davidovich Fokina, an incredible backhand winner across the court capping off a fightback that saw him give up two break points to Menšík, only to hold serve.

Some strong baseline play from the Spaniard then sees him break Menšík to seize the initiative in this fourth set.

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In some of the doubles action currently under way, Marta Kostyuk and Elena-Gabriela Ruse are up a set over Australian pair Maddison Inglis and Destanee Aiava on the 1573 Arena.

Women’s 15th seeds Beatriz Haddad Maia and Laura Siegemund also hold a one set lead over Quinn Gleason and Suzan Lamens out on court six but tenth seeds Sofia Kenin and Monica Niculescu are down a set against Renata Zarazua and Miyu Kato.

Belinda Bencic defeats Naomi Osaka 7-6 (7-3) Retired

Osaka can’t continue, what appears to be the abdominal injury she picked up in Auckland rearing its ugly head midway through that set and ending her Australian Open campaign. It’s the first time she’s retired during a match at a major but it’s the third straight tournament, following on from Beijing and Auckland, where the former world number one has been forced to bow out mid-match.

The two-time champion in Melbourne had looked as if she was cruising midway through the set off the back of a dominant first serve but that increasingly faded as play continued and she looked less and less comfortable. Once Bencic rallied back and took that opening set the call was made to retire.

The Tokyo Olympics gold medallist will now move into a fourth round meeting with either Coco Gauff or Leylah Fernandez, which will start on Margaret Court Arena in about 45 minutes.

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Bencic brings up three set points against Osaka but needs only one, taking out the first set 7-6 (7-3).

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Heading into this tiebreak, it certainly looks like the abdominal strain that forced Osaka to retire in the final of a WTA tournament in Auckland earlier this month has reared its head once more.

If she can battle through it and find a way to down Bencic is one question but so, too, is if she’ll be able to recover in time for a fourth round meeting with Coco Gauff or Leylah Fernandez if she does.

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Osaka is back on her feet and awaiting Bencic’s serve, with the Swiss no doubt having taken note of exactly what the issue is and planning how she can take advantage.

A drop shot attempt from Osaka goes straight into the net to give Bencic a 40 to love lead and she takes things out with a forehand.

We will have a fourth set on Kia Arena! That’s not a prediction, it’s a spoiler, because Davidovich Fokina has taken out the third set tie break against Menšík, who now leads 6-3 6-4 6-7 (9-7) heading into the fourth.

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Osaka’s serve is increasingly abandoning her as this first set goes on, with the host broadcaster noting that she’s not able to get her wrist over the ball as she had been.

She’s able to hold serve to take a 6-5 lead in this opening set but the trainer has been called for.

A big break from Bencic and this first set will continue! It wasn’t looking good as she went down 30-0 to start things off but she rallied back to win the next four points and gets another chance to serve.

And the Olympic gold medallist has little challenge in subsequently locking this up at 5-5, not dropping a single point as she holds serve.

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I’ve been to a few of them myself here in Melbourne, so if Alcaraz is looking for any parlour recommendations come the end of this tournament he’s free to hit me up.

Another hold from Bencic to keep herself in this opening set. But she’ll have to break Osaka and her strong first save to keep herself in it.

Well look at that, Davidovich Fokina has broken back against Menšík to force a third-set tie break out on Kia Arena. After giving the live coverage curse to both of them in the last 15 minutes, I won’t pontificate on what is about to happen next.

An important hold for Bencic, falling behind 15-30 to Osaka but working her way back to hold serve for the first time in this match.

The Swiss subsequently brings up two break points and threaten to break this opening set open, only for her Japanese opponent to fight back, force deuce and then take a crucial hold.

I may have applied something of a mozz to Davidovich Fokina out on Kia Arena, as Menšík has broken back, held serve and broken again to put himself in a commanding position in this third set meeting. He’s now on serve with a chance to take this match out.

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Osaka’s serve is already in dominant form, her sixth ace of this young match seeing her hold serve and race to a 4-1 lead against Bencic.

A good piece from Tumaini Carayol on the ground here in Melbourne, looking ahead to Emma Raducanu’s showdown with an opponent in Iga Swiatek that has had the wood over her in all their previous meetings.

Emma Raducanu says she has nothing to lose and will try to swing freely as she faces Iga Swiatek, the world No 2 and five-time grand slam champion, in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday in one of the biggest matches of her career outside her 2021 US Open title run.

Another break for Osaka as she begins to slowly pull away in this opening set, taking advantage of Bencic’s second serve to tee herself for a powerful forearm winner.

I It looks like we’re set for a fourth set out on Kia Arena, as Menšík is up five games to three and serving for the third set against Davidovich Fokina.

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Osaka dials in her first serve and we have our first hold of this matchup, the 27-year-old finishing things off with an ace.

And Osaka breaks Bencic right back! She takes her opponent to deuce twice, bringing up break point with a powerful forearm return down the sideline before an error from Bencic ties the opening set back up.

And there’s still plenty of tennis to come later today, too, highlighted by Novak Djokovic taking to Rod Laver to take on Tomas Machac and Coco Gauff facing off with Leylah Fernandez on Margaret Court Arena.

Serbian Olga Danilovic will attempt to stop American seventh seed Jessica Pegula on Rod Laver Arena later in the day and Aleksandar Vukic will seek to avoid becoming the second Australian in a row to fall to British 15th seed Jack Draper, who eliminated a wounded Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round.

For those just joining us, women’s top seed and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka has already booked her place in the fourth round after defeating Clara Tauson 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 earlier today, as has 18th seed Donna Vekic, who got past 12th seed Diana Shnaider 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (3-7) 7-5.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Laura Siegemund 6-1 6-2 on John Cain Arena to set up a fourth round clash with Vekic and men’s 12th seed Tommy Paul ran past Roberto Carballés Baena after a battle of a first set, winning 7-6 (7-0) 6-2 6-0.

Women’s 11th seed Paula Badosa beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4 4-6 6-3 and awaits the winner of Olga Danilovic and seventh seed Jessica Pegula.

Naomi Osaka and Belinda Bencic’s third round match-up has just got under way out on John Cain Arena and it’s a great start for the Swiss, breaking Osaka in the opening game of the first set. That match will be our main focus for the next few hours.

Elsewhere in the men’s and women’s singles, Jakub Menšík is up two sets over Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and women’s 13th seed Mirra Andreeva has just taken out her matchup with Magdalena Frech on the 1573 Arena, winning 6-2 1-6 6-2 to set up a fourth round tie with top seed Aryna Sabalenka.

In the pick of the doubles just gone, top seeded men’s pair Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic have cruised to a 6-2 6-2 win over Damir Džumhur and Petros Tsitsipas, while American seventh seeds Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow have fought back after dropping the opening set against countryman Marcos Giron and Evan King to advance 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-5.

Third seeded women’s pair Su-wei-hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko have downed Yifan Xu and Zhaoxuan Yang while fourth seeded Italian duo Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini have eliminated local team Priscilla Hon and Daria Saville

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Carlos Alcaraz beats Nuno Borges 6-2 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-2

A guttural roar is let out by Alcaraz as an error from Borges finally gives him the match and a place in the fourth round, where he’ll meet the winner of Jack Draper and Aleksandar Vukic’s match-up later tonight.

The Spaniard dropped his first set of the tournament of against his Portuguese opponent but ultimately wouldn’t be denied.

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Alexander Zverev (2) beats Jacob Fearnley 6-3 6-4 6-4

A regulation win is brought up by Zverev out on Margaret Court Arena, cruising past Fearnley and into the fourth round where he’ll meet a Frenchman for a spot in the quarter-finals.

14th seed Ugo Humbert and 20th seed Arthur Fils to lock horns later today to determine which of them that is.

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Thanks Jonathan and hello everyone, Joey Lynch here to take you through the next few hours of tennis, hours that will soon begin with Carlos Alcaraz (3) and Alexander Zverev (2) moving into the fourth round.

Alcaraz has just held serve and can now break Nuno Borges to advance.

With the clock ticking past 5pm in Melbourne, it’s time for me to hand over to Joey Lynch to see you through the conclusion of this Alcaraz match, and confirm Zverev’s place in round four.

Catch you back here soon.

Alcaraz climbs all over the Borges second serve to turn 30-0 into 30-40. The break looks on but the Portuguese executes a superb lob that the third seed is unable to return with an attempted ‘tweener. Borges holds but Alcaraz remains a break up in this fourth set.

Mirra Andreeva (14) beats Magdalena Frech (23) 6-2 1-6 6-2

The 17-year-old rising star is through to face Aryna Sabalenka after a topsy-turvy third round clash.

Borges is increasingly exasperated as his errors invite Alcaraz to challenge his serve. The Spaniard fails on three separate occasions to put the match to bed as the wind starts to pick up on Rod Laver Arena. A couple of loose returns allow the Portuguese to hold. It doesn’t improve his mood though as his grumpiness extends to a little whinge at the chair umpire over the serve clock.

The third seed then races through an easy hold to love to move up 4-1 and within touching distance of the fourth round.

Jakub Menšík is now two sets up on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Alcaraz holds to love in a hurry to move 3-0 up in the fourth set. Borges bounces his racket on Rod Laver Arena in frustration. You can hardly blame him.

After letting Borges back into the match Alcaraz does his best to up the tempo at the start of the fourth set, racing to an easy hold then grinding for 30-30 on his opponent’s serve. A superb 19-shot rally goes the Portuguese’s way, and he should finish off the hold but Alcaraz somehow recovers the put-away and manages to clip the baseline with a miraculous winner.

The grunts from the third seed materialise as he pushes for a break, turning deuce to advantage – then sealing the break with an unbelievable feat of athleticism! After chasing down a drop shot he spins to recover the resulting lob, then hits a 180 degree spinning leaping blind forehand that dips unreturnably on Borges. What a point. What a game. And after a slow start, what a match this is turning out to be!

Alexander Zverev (2) might have been broken by Jacob Fearnley in that second set, but the German broke the Briton twice to move up two sets to love.

BORGES WINS THE THIRD SET! Alcaraz finally concedes a set in this year’s Australian Open. The third seed won just 31% of points on his second serve and his unforced error-to-winner count leapt. Borges just kept on keeping on and earned his reward.

Borges breaks to inch ahead 4-2 in the tiebreak. Could Alcaraz be about to concede his first set of the tournament?

Superb defence from Borges to keep the tiebreak at 2-2 on serve despite some massive hitting from Alcaraz, working his opponent side to side on forehand and back.

Borges pushes Alcaraz to 30-30 with the Spaniard serving to stay in the set at 5-6. The third seed then fails to come forward quickly enough to put away a volley at the net and the Portuguese has a set point! And a second serve to attack… only to tap his return tamely into the net and pull his cap over his face in frustration. That was a massive missed opportunity.

Alcaraz then serves out the game on the back of two drop shots. The first a delicate floater, the second setting up a backhand smash.

Time for a tiebreak.

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Magdalena Frech (23) has levelled things with Mirra Andreeva (14). They’re heading for a deciding third set for the right to take on Aryna Sabalenka in the next round.

Jacob Fearnley has broken back to return the second set with Alexander Zverev (2) on serve. The German won the opening set.

Jakub Menšík takes the opening set off Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the battle of the two unseeded players jostling to meet Tommy Paul in round four.

Five-all now in the third set between Alcaraz and Borges.

After going through the motions up until 3-3, Alcaraz switches into a different intensity in his bid to break the Borges serve. There’s a big “vamos!” at 30-30 then he wins the point of the match, scurrying to retrieve an angled drop shot then lofting an inch perfect lobbed winner.

Borges saves two break points, then gets a fortunate net cord on the fourth deuce to keep his hopes alive. But still Alcaraz pushes, leaping to execute a backhand smash then diving Boris Becker-like to keep the same point alive, only to lose his racket in the process. Borges retains his composure, clips the winner into the open court then serves out to hold a magnificently entertaining game.

During that diving shot, Alcaraz actually kept the ball in play with the racket no longer in contact with his hand! That was extraordinary.

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Tommy Paul (12) beats Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 6-2 6-0

Clinical from the American, who fired 56 winners as he overpowered his Spanish opponent. He did require a medical timeout for some treatment on his left foot though.

Jakub Menšík or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina await in Alexander Zverev’s quarter of the draw.

Alcaraz v Borges is still on serve at 2-2 in the third set. The host broadcaster is doing a good job of explaining why Alcaraz’s technique, especially on the forehand, is so dangerous. It comes down the topspin revolutions he puts on the ball (roughly 3,000 rpm compared to Borges nearer 2,000). That means more bounce off the court, making returning his strokes more difficult, and allows the Spaniard more margin for error above the net.

Mirra Andreeva (14) has taken the opening set against Magdalena Frech (23). 10 winners to two to the teenager.

Alexander Zverev (2) has raced to the opening set against Jacob Fearnley. The Briton took only two points off Zverev’s first serve.

Borges holds serve to kick-off the third set, then Alcaraz reveals the first chink in his armour, serving two double faults on his way to 15-40. Borges has a second serve to attack at 30-40 but he’s too passive and Alcaraz engineers space for yet another inside-out forehand winner. The third seed serves out to settle any nerves.

Paula Badosa (11) beats Marta Kostyuk (17) 6-4 4-6 6-3

Paula Baodsa is into the fourth round and a likely date with Jessica Pegula (7). Marta Kostyuk played her part aiding the Spaniard, sending down an incredible 16 double faults.

Alcaraz concedes his first double-fault of the day to fall 15-30 behind. No bother. The third seed then crunches an unreturnable forehand, followed by a wicked drop-shot, and a 207 kph ace to move two sets to love up. Borges has kept pace for the most part but the third seed is on course for another quick-fire straight sets victory.

There’s the big break! At 30-30 Borges fails to execute the forehand winner, dumping into the net with Alcaraz out of position. The Spaniard makes him pay, crunching a forehand down the line that whistles past the Portuguese’s despairing lunge. The third seed will serve for a two sets lead.

Maybe the only time Jim Davidson will get a shoutout on a Guardian blog.

Carlos Alcaraz continues to throw in the occasional blistering winner, either backhand crosscourt or opening up his body and pinging an inside-out forehand. But Nuno Borges is hanging tough, limiting his error cont – especially on serve – to hold his own 4-4 in the second set.

Speaking of Alexander Zverev (2), he’s underway against Jacob Fearnley. That one is on serve early in the opening set.

Tommy Paul (12) is now two sets up on Roberto Carballes Baena. After a couple of testing rounds the American will be pleased to wrap up this one early. He is guaranteed an unseeded opponent in round four, with Alexander Zverev a likely quarter final challenge.

Still on serve in the second set on RLA with Borges easing into his work and enjoying a couple of cheap service games. Both men have hit 14 unforced errors so far but Alcaraz is leading the winners count 14-6.

Tommy Paul (12) has broken Roberto Carballes Baena, putting the American in a strong position to move two sets up in John Cain Arena.

There are currently three singles matches in play at Melbourne Park, but that will soon be five with Jacob Fearnley v Alexander Zverev (2), and Magdalena Frech (23) v Mirra Andreeva (14) underway shortly.

Borges grinds hard, winning a long backhand exchange to take Alcaraz to 30-30, so the third seed moves into another gear, pounding down an ace then firing a trademark inside-out forehand winner. 1-1 early in the second set.

Paula Badosa (11) has taken a stranglehold on her battle with Marta Kostyuk (17), leading 3-0 in the deciding set.

Two breaks, four holds, and Carlos Alcaraz is a set up without breaking sweat. The third seed is landing barely half his first serves but Nuno Borges is failing to capitalise, winning just two of 10 points on the Spaniard’s second serve.

There’s been the occasional massive inside-out forehand winner, but otherwise an unremarkable start to this one on Rod Laver Arena.

Donna Vekic (16) beats Diana Shnaider (12) 7-6 6-7 7-5

The 28-year-old Olympic silver medallist is through to the fourth round after prevailing in an epic.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (27) is up next, with a possible quarter final against Aryna Sabalenka on the horizon.

4-2: both Alcaraz and Borges continue to hold serve, but the third seed is starting to look ominous, finding his rhythm from the baseline, slapping those heavy groundstrokes to hurry his opponent into errors.

Third time lucky for Marta Kostyuk (17) who finally serves out the second set to level her match with Paula Badosa (11).

Tommy Paul (12) has won the opening set tiebreak against Roberto Carballes Baena.

Diana Shnaider (12) and Donna Vekic (16) are still inseparable, locked one-set all and 5-5 on serve in the third.

2-1: both Alcaraz and Borges hold serve. The former with ease, the latter after being taken to deuce. We’re dealing mostly in errors, not winners, so far, as the afternoon sun beats down on Rod Laver Arena. The ambient temperature is just 22C, courtesy of a southerly breeze, but protected by the stands of RLA the heat on court will be much higher.

Marta Kostyuk (17) has now twice failed to serve out the second set. 5-0 has become 5-3 with Paula Badosa (11) clinging on.

Ok, let’s dive deep on Alcaraz v Borges and… the third seed breaks serve in the opening game. Goodness me he has looked awesome this week. Maybe it’s the gun show he’s brining in the summer sun, the remodelled serve, or just his overall standard of tennis when fully fit, but the young Spaniard has looked the pick of the favourites early in this tournament. His looming quarter final with Novak Djokovic is going to be epic.

Carlos Alcaraz (3) has just walked on to Rod Laver Arena for his clash with Nuno Borges. That will be the focus of my attention for the next few hours, but while they’re warming up, let’s whip around the courts.

Diana Shnaider (12) and Donna Vekic (16) are locked one-set all and on serve in the third on Margaret Court Arena.

Paula Badosa (11) is one set up over Marta Kostyuk (17) but the Ukrainian is on the cusp of winning the second set, leading 5-1, but just failing to serve out a bagel.

And Tommy Paul (12) v Roberto Carballes Baena is heading for an opening set tiebreak.

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Thank you very much Jim, and good afternoon everybody else, especially Danielle Collins. That on-court interview will live long in Australian Open folklore.

Righto, as the clock ticks round to 3am UK time and and 14.00pm in Melbourne, time for me to hit the hay in Blighty and hand over to the far sunnier presence of Jonathan Howcroft in actual Australia. Thanks for your company, enjoy the rest of the day, goodbye.

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Aryna Sabalenka defeats Clara Tauson 7-6 (7-5) 6-4

Phewf. There it is, Sabalenka puts away a backhand drive across court and turns to her box with an exaggerated fist pump. There’s a definite show of relief from the defending champion, that was a punishing game (and watch) at times!

Sabalenka speaks:

“A great battle, she (Tauson) played unbelievable tennis. I’m super happy to get the win, to put the ball back on her side and come through. Thanks for all the support, what an atmosphere.”

“It could have gone either way, I’m very happy to close it out.”

“So many times I was thinking I was done, honestly, I had to keep pushing.”

This match is cray cray, Sabalenka has the chance to serve for it at 5-4 up and then immediately tightens up, her groundstrokes freezing and her serve losing its zip as she shonks to 15-40. Then, all of a sudden she finds her game again, roaring back and bringing up MATCH POINT…

All credit to Clara Tauson who just refuses to go away, she’s making Sabalenka work for her victory, some scorching groundstrokes see the Dane carve out a break point at 3-4 down. Tauson needs this to level things up. She has a second serve to have a swing at too… Sabalenka sends down a nervy looking serve and there it is! Tauson breaks with a pulverising winner to level the second set 4-4!

There’s a third Ashes ODI on right now by the way. Rob Smyth is on the tools for that one, Ash Gardner has chalked up a maiden international ton and England’s quest for the urn is looking increasingly doomed.

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Simon Cambers is also following the action in Melbourne, this is very good on the ancient-in-tennis-years – 28 year old Sydney born Aleksandar Vukic:

Unless your name is Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz or Rafael Nadal, breaking through on the tennis circuit demands patience. At the start of the Australian Open, the average age of the men’s top 100 players was 26.6, with 19 players aged 30 years or older. Getting in there is far from easy.

Aleksandar Vukic knows all about taking time. The Sydney-born Vukic broke into the world’s top 100 in 2023 but at the age of 28 he had still only won three matches at grand slam level before this week. After beating the No 22 seed, Sebastian Korda, in the second round at Melbourne Park, he’s through to a clash against Britain’s Jack Draper, a major step forward in Vukic’s career, not to mention a guaranteed AU$290,000 and by far his biggest pay cheque

Vukic is the oldest Australian man to reach the third round of a grand slam for the first time since Wayne Arthurs in 2001. Once a contemporary of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, Vukic fell behind his peers and decided to go to Spain to train, only to find the strict regime of “five to six hours of tennis” too monotonous as he soon felt burnt out. Instead, he went to college in the United States and enrolled at the University of Illinois, where he found life altogether more fun, while still training hard.

Sabalenka in command against Tauson in the second set.

That first set was truly mad, the defending champ looks unbeatable most of the time but her aura definitely looked diminished in the first hour of play. A mixture of a hard hitting opponent and way too many unforced errors. She’ll be very pleased to get off the court in two with no (further) alarms and no surprises. She’ll take the quiet life, a handshake… with her opponent and the umpire.

I’ve just enjoyed reading this by Tumaini on the intertwining paths of British pair *Draper and Fearnley:

They first met when they were about 10 years old and their first battle came under an inflatable indoor bubble on the green clay courts of the Gosling Sports Park in Welwyn Garden City, just as they were making the transition from the softer junior balls to fully pressurised yellow balls.

As two of the outstanding players of their age groups in Britain, Draper and Fearnley spent much of their time between the ages of 10 and 14 tussling in singles before joining forces in doubles and team competitions around the world, iron constantly sharpening iron. “We played each other all the time,” says Draper. “We travelled under-12s, we won the Winter Cup under-12s and we must have played each other 30-, 50-plus times. And he’d get the better of me a lot and then I’d get him sometimes. It was a really healthy dynamic we had back then. And we were travelling, we were young, good friends.”

*<Insert joke about provincial branch of solicitors >

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Elsewhere, US duo Krajicek and Ram have prospered 6-1, 6-4 over Ebden and Vliegen in just 1 hour 8 mins.

Have a look at this…

I knew this was going to be a cracker. Diana Shnaider and Donna Vekic are absolutely marmalising and mesmerising over on Margaret Court! The Croatian and 18th seed Vekic snuck the first set 7-6(*7-4) in the tie break but 12th seed Shnaider has the break at 3-1 in the second.

Pavlyuchenkova defeats Siegemund 6-1, 6-2

An hour and half on John Cain is enough for Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to dust off Laura Sigemund and book her spot in the next round.

Too old? She’s only 33 for flips sake!

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Sabalenka takes the first set! 7-6 (*7-5)

A thundering return brings up a set point for Sabalenka and she takes it at the first time of asking, fizzing a forehand past her opponent to finally take control of the match.

Tauson has put up a real fight but after losing the first set she has an awful lot to do now to try and get something out of this match. I’m going to avert my eyes from this one briefly to bring you some scores on the doors from around Melbourne Park.

Tie break thriller! The tennis has gone up about eight notches in quality! It doesn’t happen often but Sabalenka is genuinely being matched for pace and power by Tauson. After the defending champ whistles to a 4-1 lead the Dane roars back with some earth-scorching ground strokes of her own and somehow they are now at 5-5!

Tauson shonks a forehand off the frame and it flies very wide of the tramline. She’s 5-6 and 30-30, she shows some anger for for the first time, both players have not been anywhere near their best yet. What a truly weird set of tennis!

Finally! A really high quality rally sees Sabalenka hunt down a well executed drop shot only for Tauson to whip a winner past her to take the game to deuce. The Dane smashes a nervy overhead and saves a set point before unfurling a beautiful forehand and swatting a drive volley to get advantage. Sabalenka backhands into the net and after seven minutes the game is wrestled back by Tauson, they are going to a tie break after all that!

Sabalenka pummels the baseline and puts the pressure on Tauson, the Dane goes from being two points away from winning the first set to being broken back in the blink of an eye. Sabalenka lets out a guttural roar, is that the moment this match changes?

Sabalenka didn’t drop a single set on her run to the title last year and all of a sudden she yanks this topsy-turvy set from her opponent’s clutches. The break is consolidated with a warp speed service game that sees Sabalenka get her nose in front for the first time in the match.

Tauson breaks Sabalenka for the fourth time (yikes) to go 5-3 up on Rod Laver. The defending champion very much in danger of dumping this first set in pretty miserable style. Are we seeing the beginnings of a major shock at the start of day six?!

Updated

The American doubles pairing of Krajicek and Ram have bagged the first set against the Aussie/Belgian pairing of Ebden and Vliegen imaginatively named Kia Arena.

Krajicek was the number one ranked doubles player in 2023 and the 34 year old is indeed a distant cousin of the Flying Dutchman from the 90s. One of my earliest tennis memories is of watching Richard Krajicek beat Mal Washington to win the 1996 Wimbledon title. I was mesmerised in my parents attic, watching on a dilapidated old Grundig television that one had to blu tac the straggly aerial in all sorts of contorted positions in order to get a signal. Happy times. Every game at the swipe of a screen? Kids these days don’t know they are born… I mean they’ll never get on the property ladder or get a pension, but still. That’s for another blog.

Nostalgia is such a cheap thrill, eh?

Over at the John Cain arena, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is not having any trouble holding serve, the 27th seed has just snaffled the first set against Germany’s Lara Siegemund with an 88 per cent first serve percentage.

Oh gawd. That’s four breaks in a row between Tauson and Sabalenka! Both players guilty of running hot and very cold, unforced errors aplenty in what has been a low quality start. 2-2 in the first set.

What’s your take on all this then? Spicy.

Guess what? Another break of serve! Tauson crunches a backhand winner at 30-30 to carve out another early break point… Sabalenka’s forehand is not firing as of yet, another bunt long sees the game handed to the Dane, 2-1 to Tauson!

There’s been some to-ing and fro-ing on serve over on Margaret Court too as Diana Schnaider went 2-0 up against Donna Vekic only to be broken back just now after a nervy looking double-fault into the net.

Can everyone stop getting… broken?

Tauson’s first serve is penetrative but her second sometimes lacks a bit of juice. Sabalenka slams a forehand winner and then benefits from a high ball flying into the sun that Tauson loses sight of momentarily, her overhead backhand hitting the net to gift break points right back. There’s some meaty strokeplay from both players and Sabalenka locates her radar, hitting the baseline with a winner to take the game. A break back and one game apiece. Already looks like it should be a good tussle.

Sabalenka is serving first and is immediately put under pressure by her opponent after unforced errors on both backhand and forehand sides. Tauson doesn’t even have to do much to be honest, so shonky is Sabalenka’s radar early doors… 15-40 and then BREAK. Just like that, Tauson takes the first game and will now have her first service game to consolidate.

Updated

Sabalenka and Tauson begin their knock up in bright sunshine as the crowds spill into Rod Laver arena. Defending champion Sabalenka, dressed in Aussie yellow, strode onto the court with her headphones on and looked full of confidence, as well she might. Her opponent is the big serving Dane Clara Tauson, she has the most aces in the draw so far and stands an inch taller than Sabalenka. The stattos are only giving her a 9 per cent chance of victory but that seems a little low from what I’ve seen of her, If she gets into her groove then she can be very dangerous.

Righto, it looks like it is a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way in Melbourne. Let’s have some play, shall we?

Order of Play on Margaret Court

A humdinger in prospect first up over on Marge C as seed numero 18 and 12 scrap it out

  • Diana Schnaider v Donna Vekic

That’s followed by a British underdog against a towering German

  • Jacob Fearnley v Alexander Zverev

The penultimate game sees the third seed take on the 30th seed, the young American up against the young Canadian

  • Coco Gauff v Leylah Fernandez

Finally, Britain’s number one men’s hope against a tricksy home favourite

  • Jack Draper v Aleksandar Vukic

Order of Play on Rod Laver

As I wait for the coverage to beam into my telly (Beverley Hills Cop has just finished FYI) let’s turn our attention to today’s match ups. As mentioned, it is a belter. Tuck your tongue in will you!

Rod Laver Arena:

First up at 11:30 am local time, the number one women’s seed takes on a plucky Dane

  • Aryna Sabalenka v Clara Tauson

After that it is local rivals Portugal v Spain, a battle between T-shirt vs Singlet

  • Nuno Borges v Carlos Alcaraz

Followed by some 37 year old dude against a 24 year old Czech…

  • Novak Djokovic v Tomas Machac

And finally:

  • Jessica Pegula v Olga Danilovic

The American 7th seed takes on the 23 year old Serbian southpaw.

Updated

Tien Time:

Catch up on all the happenings from yesterday in Melbourne:

On the day of a new attendance record at Melbourne Park, the world No 11, Danielle Collins, was booed and jeered in her win over local hope Destanee Aiava, the latest intervention at the Australian Open from boisterous and often intoxicated crowds in a sport known for its civility.

The treatment appeared to affect the American, who shouted “shut up” to one fan during her tense 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2 victory, even blowing kisses to the stands and turning and slapping her bottom in post-match victory taunts.

Afterwards she was one of a chorus of players who called for the volume to be turned not down but up. The endorsement comes as officials at the Australian Open try to attract non-traditional audiences to the sport, and players such as the “Special Ks” doubles pairing of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis encourage engagement from a new generation of tennis fans.

“I love playing in a crowd that has energy, regardless of what side they’re on,” Collins said after her victory. “It just motivates me even more, so it’s kind of a good thing, especially when I’m not playing that well.”

Preamble

Hello and welcome to Day Six of the Australian Open brought to you from the sun dappled Melbourne Park a bloke under a heated blanked sporting long johns in chilly south London, England.

I’m not complaining, the coffee is strong, the multiple devices are charged and the line-up is stellar – how does Sabalenka, Vekic, Alcaraz, Zverev, Gauff, Djokovic, Pegula… Sessions Draper… sound?

Not to mention Lynch, Howcroft and Harris on the livebloggin’ tools. Ambassador, we are spoiling you.

Before we get to today’s proceedings, a word on the late-night-five-set-ding-dong between American teenager Learner Tien and three time Aussie open finalist and US open champion Daniil Medvedev. Namely: WOW. What a match that was. The tournament needed a shot in the arm and holy moly it got one.

“I was definitely hoping it wouldn’t go to a fifth-set breaker ... It was definitely harder than maybe it could have been, but, whatever,” the teenage Tien said in the moments after toppling Medvedev - the gnarled old gunslinger - 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6 in the small matter of 4 hours 49 minutes.

Tien then charmed the crowd even further : “I really appreciate all you guys staying out here. I know it’s late. I have no idea what time it is.” It was actually the wee small hours of Friday morning and definitely past Tien’s bedtime. Not that he would have been able to sleep after playing the match of his short career so far.

Let’s hope for more thrills, spills and belly earaches (Here’s looking at you Danielle Collins) as the tournament approaches the end of its first week.

I’ll post the schedule/order of play in a moment, the first balls will be tossed on the Rod Laver and Margaret Court Arena’s at 11.30 AEDT – about 40 minutes from now. Do get in touch if you are following along, weirdest and wackiest blog following location gets a special/undisclosed/as yet undecided prize. Maybe. *Please do check the small print.

*There will be no physical prizes. A mention on this blog should be enough, no? Greedyguts.

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