So that’s today, but what of tomorrow? Well, action starts with Madison Keys v Elina Svitolina, then moves through Emma Navarro v Iga Swiatek and Ben Shelton v Lorenzo Sonego, before you get to join us for live, game-by-game coverage of Jannik Sinner v Alex de Minaur. See you then, but in the meantime, thanks for your company and go in peace.
So let’s quickly round up today’s action:
Paula Badosa beat Coco Gauff to reach her first grand slam semi
Alexander Zverev beat Tommy Paul in four sets
Aryna Sabalenka beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, just
Novak Djokovic beat Carlos Alcaraz, as you may have heard
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Phew, that was some ridiculous behaviour. It’s amazing that Djokovic is still shocking and confounding us given 24 major titles, one Olympic gold, and all the other things he’s done to upend our conception of the possible. But that performance there was something else, the best he’s played in a slam in two years and coming when we were wondering if he even had that kind of performance left in him. I do think Alcaraz can play a fair bit better than that, but the principal reason he didn’t was the genius on the other side of the net.
Djokovic chuckles a little and, asked how he won, says “With my two arms and two legs, I guess … well one and half legs.”
He then communicates his admiration and respect for Alcaraz and his achievements; “What a terrific guy he is and even better competitor,” explaining that he’s going to be around plenty more.
Continuing, Djokovic says he wishes this match was the final, one of the most epic matches he’s played on this court or any other; he doesn’t know if Zverev is still awake at this hour.
Asked about his injury, he says seeing as he’s still in the tournament he doesn’t want to say too much, but if he’d lost the second set he might’ve retired. But once the second dose of medication kicked in, he improved and saw that Alcaraz was hesitant from the back so he took his chances and started to feel and move better.
Reminded that two years ago, he injured himself mind-tournament, went more aggressive and won the title, he stops answering to wonder how his kids are still awake at 1am, before explaining that given the intensity Alcaraz brings, you have to come out and be at your best. And the same applies to the match against Zverev, but that’s not till Friday, so there’s plenty of recovery time.
And he’ll need it, given how well Zverev is playing, but says they’ve an agreement that the Germand won’t win any slams until he retires.
So Djokovic moves on and will face Alexander Zverev in the last four; Alcaraz departs to plenty of well deserved applause. But he was second-best tonight, undone by the precision and desire of the greatest tenniser of all time. To play like that at any point in human history is one thing, but to play like that at the age of 37 is an act of such unmitigated cruelty and profound love that it’s hard to know what to do with all the feelings. But here comes the man of the aeon to explain himself…
Novak Djokovic (7) beats Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4
Bow down! Djokovic dredges forehands from the depths of the earth’s core and Alcaraz cannot cope! A fantastic performance from a wondrous athlete, and we are privileged to be living in his time. How can this man still amaze us?
…lots of ball-bounces…
Djokovic will want first serves here – stick with me for further insights – and though he doesn’t find one first up, Alcaraz nets on the return; 15-0. But a backhand swiped wide means 15-all … only for Djokovic to coax a wrong-footing forehand into a corner Alcaraz has just vacated after playing an apparently terrific backhand; 30-15. Backhands from Alcaraz then make 30-all, but sent wide with one from Djokovic, he can’t control his response, and at 40-30, here comes the first match point…
Alcaraz makes 30-15, then an ace out wide raises game point, and a return into the net seals the hold. At 4-6 6-4 6-3 5-4, Djokovic will shortly serve for the match…
Massive game coming up, Alcaraz swiping a backhand winner down the line for 0-15; pressure! A fine return then allows him to back away and whip a forehand winner … but a Djokovic backhand halves the deficit at 15-30. Every point is an occasion now, every shot even, and another frankly disguising rally, Alcaraz dictating, ends when Djokovic errs on shot 22, and here come two break-back points! The younger man now looks the stronger man, but looking to run around his backhand he frames his forehand, and can do nothing about a serve out wide then cleanup volley to the opposite corner. That brings deuce, Djokovic making advantage when Alcaraz goes long, and though he slips, he’s straight back up. From there, he closes out a hold that goes a long way to securing the match – that’s four straight points from 15-40 – and at 5-3 in the fourth, he’s a game away.
A Djokovic net-cord sits up but Alcaraz can’t quote finish the rally and another epic unfolds, both men hitting and hollering from the depths of their mortal soul – the level is so high, the commitment so total, that it’s moving to watch – before the Serb goes long, the crowd go wild, and Alcaraz again laughs at the ridiculousness of their combined brilliance. This is so, so good, and it’s the younger man cupping ear at crowd when he secures his hold, punching a volley and gesticulating at his corner. Could that break point saved have switched momentum? Djokovic leads 2-1 4-3.
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“I love watching the evolution of tennis goats in their mid 30s as the legs slow down,” writes Victor K.” How many bonus slams did being coached first by Annacone and latterly Ljubicic buy Federer? And how many additional easy points on the first serve has Goran bought Djokovic the last six years?”
The sneaky way the best returner ever has become one of the best servers ever, in his 30s, is a frankly obscene development. I don’t know how much of that is down to Ivanisevic, but the rotating cast of experts makes a lot of sense when you’ve seen everything.
Anyhow, another game in which Alcaraz leads, this time 40-15, winds up at deuce, the Spaniard nets a forehand, and Djokovic has a point that feels like a match point at 2-1 4-2 advantage…
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Alcaraz hasn’t been able to victimise Djokovic’s second serve, doing too little with one that sits up and finding himself down 30-0; between points we learn that in this set and the last, the Serb has disbursed just five unforced errors. But another brings us to 30-all … so a service-winner, curling away out wide, raises game point and provokes another hideously exhausting rally, Djokovic reading and reaching the drop aiming to finish it but unable to glide a riposte over the face of the net. So to deuce we go and down advantage – Djokovic having found a big first serve, of course he did – Alcaraz imposes backhands cross, before dematerialising a forehand winner line and celebrating with the crowd in a bid to get them and him going. This is a fantastic contest now, and again Djokovic can’t see out the advantage his first serve garners, a dead net-cord restoring deuce. From there, though, Djokovic closes out, and at 4-6 6-4 6-3 4-2, he’s two games away. I am in awe of what we’re watching, mates; we’ve never seen anything remotely like it, nor will we again.
Since Djokovic hit a seam at the start of set two, Alcaraz hasn’t managed one of his own; he’s still, of course, playing brilliant points here and there, but there’s not been a point at which we could say he was on top. Still, he quickly serves out a love game, but the way Djokovic moves away from the ace that seals it, I’m reminded that he sometimes tanks when a break up to deny his opponent the kind of rhythm that might facilitate a break. Djokovic leads 3-2 and by two sets to one.
Down 15-0, Alcaraz lands a good return then plants a forehand winner down and just inside the line, and down 15-30, a barrage of backhands level the game a second time. In the context, 30-all represents a chance, and a double means a break-back point, a terrifying long rally unfolding before Djokovic somehow finds the juice to turn it up, an inside-out forehand too much to return. So he noises up the crowd then goes again at deuce, Alcaraz doing well in the rally before overhitting a forehand when set. He just can’t cope with the consistency, slipping but also made to slip on advantage, hitting a fine backhand to the corner, but coming in behind it, a squash-shot floated down the line asks him to turn quicker than he’s able, and Djokovic secures another hold! He leads 2-1 3-1 and Alcaraz is running out of road!
At 30-0, Djokovic finds an inside-out return to keep us interested and Alcaraz on edge; an ace follows, then a drop does just enough, the riposte flipped long, and the younger man wins his first game in five. Djokovic leads 2-1 2-1.
I can barely believe what I’m seeing here, a bizarre thing to say given we’re watching a man who has trained us, over decades, to expect anything.And he’s under a bit of pressure at 4-30, Alcaraz just about forcing a backhand down the line and on to its outermost fibre, but a service-winner out wide follows, Djokovic leads 2-1 2-0, and this is near-perfection, not in terms of play, as there are always errors, but in terms of execution.
While I’m trying to sum up the third set, Djokovic sets about the fourth, making 15-40, and though Alcaraz saves one break point he can’t avert the next! This is mind-boggling stuff from the greatest of all time; he’s simply irrepressible out there and Alcaraz, who may have an injury issue himself, indicates to his team that he doesn’t know quite what to do. Djokovic leads 2-1 1-0, with a break!
Oh man, this is great expletive stuff; I could watch this until I die and the way these are playing, you never know. Alcaraz makes o-15, then ups the pace on the forehand before laying a drop that’s far too good. Djokovic, though, quickly levels the game at 30-all, then Alcaraz ends another sumptuously sapping rally by unloading a forehand into the top of the net; set-point Djokovic! AND OH MY COMPLETE AND UTTER DAYS! Another insane rally unfolds, Alcaraz in control, but he can’t quite finish it,Djokovic retrieving a lob that looks like a finisher then alcaraz eschewing an overhead to hit a swing-volley, picking hjs man out, and the backhand cross is so good that when younger man nets his riposte to lose the set, he returns to his chair laughing, Djokovic again cupping ear at crowd This is simply incredible behaviour even by the stratospheric standard, and Djokovic leads 4-6 6-4 6-3!
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Djokovic wins out at the net for 0-15, then another brilliant return, on the stretch, sends a really good serve deep and Alcaraz shanks a forehand riposte wide before overhitting a backhand. In no time at all, it’s 0-40, and goodness gracious me! Another horrible rally, 22 shots, then Djokovic conjures an inside-out forehand into the corner and at 5-3, he breaks to love and will now serve for a 2-1 lead! But not before he’s cupped ears at the crowd, all of whom, along with the rest of the world, are presumably against him, even those shouting his name. It just isn’t fair, but what a ridiculous man this man is.
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Alcaraz flings himself into a return and makes 0-15 when Djokovic can’t respond, then a forehand is enough for 0-30. Big moments coming up again, and goodness me, a double means three break-back points, the umpire reminding people not to talk between serves. Naturally, Djokovic plays a perfect point at 0-40, a serve out wide facilitating Alcaraz extracts from himself yet greater effort, turning up the power o a forehand down the line and thrashing away until his opponent can’t take any more. We’re back on serve at 4-4 in set three, and this match is maturing into a classic. It’s true that neither player is at his best, but the intensity of the contest is special.
Up 15-0, Alcaraz checks a drive-volley, perhaps put-off by Djokovic’s movement, and does too much. Then, at 40-15, Djokovic stretches to return, facilitating a backhand down the line that’s too good, and from there he makes deuce; again he’s the better, happier player, and a double hands him advantage. These are big moments, and yet another fine return from Djokovic removes the server’s advantage, then cleaner ball-striking yields the unforced error, Alcaraz netting a backhand, and there’s the break! Djokovic leads 4-6 6-4 4-2!
Djokovic holds to 15 and he leads 3-2 in set three; I’ve not a clue how he’s able to deliver this level of performance at 37, nor find it in himself to get as fit as he needs to be. He remains the better player, but can he make it count?
Hauled in, Djokovic outwits Alcaraz at the net for 0-15, then a backhand swiped wide and it’s 0-30. “Nole! Nole! Nole!” chant the crowd and the man himself knows this could be his moment … or not, the younger man quickly levelling the game with a drop-pass combo move. But when a serve sits up, a forehand winner down the line gives Djokovic 30-40 … only for Alcaraz to find the delivery and cleanup he needs to make deuce. Then, handed a nasty backhand down the line, he digs out a fine forehand response that forces the error, closing out with a winner down the line for 2-2 in the third. This is a brutal, absorbing, inspiring contest … and it’s nowhere near finished!
A second-serve ace gives Djokovic 15-0, but Alcaraz then makes room to hammer a forehand winner down the line. It’s a proper slug-fest now and it’s the older man in the ascendancy, the elasticated steel wire he has in lieu of muscles serving him well. He holds to 15 and leads 4-6 6-4 2-1, but can he maintain his level – technically and physically – as the set develops?
I’d expect Djokovic to put the pressure on here, looking to finish rather than probe. But though an ace gives Alcaraz 30-0, good defence then persuades him to overhit and a netted forehand takes us to 30-all; he’s dipping a little here, and his opponent will sense that, stretching to force back a forehand, then inventing a ludicrous backhand angle from the middle of the baseline to break the sideline with a winner. On break point, though, Alcaraz finds the forehands he needs … only to net another when matched by Djokovic from the back. This time, though, he can’t return a slower first serve, a sonic-boom forehand makes advantage, and the Serb, well in the next point, nets to hand over the hold. We’re 1-1 1-1, and this is absolutely compelling stuff.
The difference in that second set, I think, was Djokovic’s ability to hit the baseline or close to it with his returns. And he quickly makes 40-15 serving first in the third, but when a backhand floats wide, there’s a little bit of pressure … all the more so when he opts not to pursue a pretty high drop. From there, though, Djokovic quickly closes out, a cunning serve onto the back of the line securing the game. He leads 4-6 6-4 1-0.
Now then: Alcaraz goes long, then tries a higher ball, but Djokovic waits for it, rides it, and punishes a leaping forehand winner down the line for 0-30! Naturally a tremendous return follows right on to the line, and Alcaraz can’t backpeddle fast enough to reset; three set points coming up! And Djokovic only needs one, making room absorbing a body-serve to smoke a backhand winner down the line and level the match at 4-6 6-4! Djokovic is an absolute djoke, one of the greatest competitors we’ve ever seen in any sport. Enjoy him while you still can, people.
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Djokovic comes in but can’t close off the net and another hooked forehand leaves him helpless. So up 0-15, Alcaraz comes in off a second-serve return – “crush and rush,” says Tim Henman in co-comms – but then nets his volley. Then, at 15-all, Alcaraz is forced into a defensive lob, so Djokovic soars to flick backhand overhead winner that’s all wrist; what an absolute master he is, just obscene in every aspect of the game. And from there, he closes out – just, Alcaraz missing by fractions with a backhand down the line. He’ll now serve to stay in the second set at 6-4 4-5.
An ace makes 40-0 and from there Alcaraz quickly closes out for 6-4 4-4.
“It is interesting to note that the commentary from this match today is so similar to that of Djokovic’s past matches last year,” emails Niall O’Keefe. That he is soldiering on with an injury. That is the reason he is not on top. But he only grimaces with ‘pain’ when he loses a shot. He seems pain-free when hitting winners, and he cannot be really injured too bad if he can get to so quickly the last few drop shots from Alcaraz. Mind games I think. 0 3 down. Now 3-3. No grimacing at end of the last game. Still hope he wins though!”
I know what you mean but I do think he’s a little hampered on the backhand side and has changed tactics since getting hurt, looking to shorten the points. I don’t think he does that if he’s moving freely.
Djokovic, though, is still bang in this match. What’s striking about his performance so far is how effortlessly he toggles between strategies, forced by injury to attack earlier so doing so like it’s nothing. And he holds quickly here, though it’s to 30, and he leads 4-3 in set two – one, you feel, he must win if he’s to have a chance of winning the match.
At 30-0, Alcaraz nets a forehand, but Djokovic narrowly misses a forehand down the line – one he might not’ve attempted were his leg not giving him gyp. No matter; we soon arrive at deuce and when Djokovic unloads the suitcase on a backhand, aided by the wind, the response flies wide and offers break point. Alcaraz, though, is so calm under pressure and, as they contest another sapping rally, its 15th shot is a drop, and though this time, Djokovic runs it down, all he can do is set up a winner for deuce. And Alcaraz soon makes advantage, Djokovic grimacing as he lands after firing a futile forehand … but then chases down a drop, his leaping backhand overhead, responding to a lob, catching the net-cord and dropping! So back to deuce we go, then again when Alcaraz overhits, and a double donates a second break point! For all the good it does him, Alcaraz banging a flat ace out wide, and these games are something; Djokovic immediately takes over the next point with a terrific return, but superb defence prompts the unforced error, the another drop is too good. Alcaraz secures a crucial hold to lead 6-4 3-3 and again, the sense is that whatever he needs to do, he’ll do.
Every Djokovic service-point is an occasion now and at 15-30 there follows a conflab with the umpire after a let is called, Alcaraz suggesting she was swayed by the Serb stopping mid-point. Then, at 30-all, Djokovic overhits, and though his leg might be distracting him, that’s something he’s doing more often these days. Either way, it’s break point, and when he comes in, Alcaraz hits at him hard enough for him to be unable to control his volley. That’s the break back and, as we discussed earlier, it feels like however close this gets, the younger man will ultimately do whatever he needs to do to win. He leads 6-4 2-3.
Alcaraz rushes through a hold for 6-4 1-3, and Djokovic will feel like he’s barely had a break from serving.
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Who saw so powerful a return-game coming from Djokovic there? He’s trying to curtail points now, and maybe that bit of adversity – losing set one and injuring himself in the process – has got him dialled in. He makes 40-15 with an ace, but forced to play an extra ball by Alcaraz’s excellent defence, he nets, then, trying to outhit then almost, er, unouthittable, he nets again, bringing us to deuce. A service-winner follows, then a tremendous point, finished by Djokovic at the net, and whether forced or not, the tactic of getting off first is working nicely. Alcaraz lads 6-4 0-3.
A backhand return carted down the line makes Djokovic 15-all, but Alcaraz is loving his hooked forehand and another restores his advantage in the game. A netted backhand, though, presents 30-all – so far, Alcaraz has only won 3/10 second-serve points – and we see the difference again immediately, a first delivery landing and setting up the winner, then a second allowing Djokovic to punish a forehand return cross-court for one of his own and deuce. Then, another forehand-return-winner, this time to a first serve, raises break point, before a forehand winner down the line seals the deal! A fantastic game (of tennis) from the 10-time champ, who leads 2-0 in the second – as he did in the first.
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Up 15-0, Djokovic tries some serve and volley, perhaps to shorten the point, and it works well, making 30-0, then an ace curling away on to the T secures a swift love hold. He needed that, but Alcaraz leads 6-4 0-1.
Very quickly, Alcaraz makes 30-0, the way he gradually brought himself to the boil very impressive. A service-winner follows, then an ace down the T, for which Djokovic doesn’t even move. Alcaraz leads 6-4 and I can’t see a way he doesn’t win from here – all the more so given Djokovic is hampered by injury, especially on the backhand side.
We see a bit of Pavlyuchenkova’s press conference and she says she’s really disappointed. She didn’t know what to expect and started poorly, also struggling with the conditions and playing night on Laver. But she got some momentum in the second set though it was really windy … and Djokovic is back, left thigh strapped, so here we go, first set in the balance.
So Alcaraz, waiting to serve for the first set, must sit about getting cold. His play, though, is of increasing warmth, and I’m not certain Djokovic has the tools to contain him now.
Djokovic disappears to be treated. He seems to have a problem with his left leg, not something you need when playing the embodiment, acme and apotheosis of youthful vigour.
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Alcaraz does well to take control of the first point in the game but is too casual with his putaway volley and Djokovic springs in to flip a winner down the line. But a hooked forehand is too good and raises 15-all, then Alcaraz ups the pace on the forehand before the change-up drop facilitates the forehand pass – after which Djokovic stretches gingerly. Then, picking the wrong corner and hitting to the one Alcaraz occupies, he’ll have feared the worst … but the forehand down the line drops just long, making 30-all. And when a big second serve is followed by a forehand error, we move to deuce, Alcaraz again turning it up, this time on the backhand, to make advantage, and this controlled aggression might be the difference in this match. Djokovic, though, gives break point everything, dictating from the back before finding a lovely angle on the cross-court forehand, a cleanup backhand to the same corner restoring deuce. This is getting serious now, Alcaraz earning a second break point with a backhand winner, Djokovic saving it with more refined hitting … before shanking one when caught flat-footed and, as Alcaraz again hits more potently from the back, Djokovic lashes well wide and calls for the physio. Alcaraz leads 5-4 in the first, with a break!
Down 15-30 and ceding too many unforced errors, Alcaraz finds a decent T-serve that Djokovic can’t return, then gulls him again with a well-disguised drop before a netted return seals the hold and 4-4. As we arrive at the business end of the set, pressure mounts.
Djokovic looks to keep Alcaraz moving, quickly making 40-0, but an ill-disguised drop is easily chased down and eased back into the corner. But a backhand swiped just wide hands over another hold, and Djokovic leads 4-3 in the first. Neither man is seriously threatening at the moment, though Alcaraz’s greater firepower looks a greater threat than Djokovic’s gresater consistency.
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Alcaraz nets a backhand for 15-all but then curls a forehand winner into the space Djokovic has just vacated after chasing a wide serve. A double, though, takes us to 30-all, and when Alcaraz nets to end a backhand corner to backhand corner rally, he faces deuce. A drop then raises advantage, Djokovic nets a return, and we’re level at 3-3 in set one.
Up 15-0, Djokovic ups the pace on the forehand, so Alcaraz responds in kind, a leaping winner creamed down the line levelling the game. But at 40-15, Alcaraz chases a serve out wide and hooks a winner cross-court, then another decent return incites the error and takes us to deuce. Gradually, the younger man is asserting himself, but a good first serve and wrong-footing backhand give Djokovic advantage, then a T-serve secures a 3-2 lead. This is warming up nicely.
How do we feel about Alcaraz’s vest look? I guess it’s one of those that is acceptable on him because it’s him – competitive charisma and tennis genius can atone for a multitude of fashion faux pas – but he might also just make something already good even better. He rushes through a hold to level the first set at 2-2.
Aside from being a battle between two of tennis’ best players, it’s also a battle between of its most remorseless, relentless, heads of hair. Of course, Alcaraz needs his to sustain for another 16 years to start talking, but the portents are good, the coverage unerring. Anyroad, he makes 30-all then does well to return a testing T-serve, a wide forehand riposte handing him a point to secure an immediate break-back. The longest rally of the match doth then ensue, Alcaraz biding time – not words you often see deployed in succession – before pasting a backhand winner down the line for 1-2. That’s a great sign for him: getting back into the set immediately without having to play that well.
Eeesh, Alcaraz takes control of his first-service point with a mahoosive serve but, made to hit an extra ball by Djokovic’s desperate return, he nets his forehand putaway … then a long forehand means he faces 0-30, the wind confiscating his spin. But a ridiculous get, on the stretch, sees Alcaraz somehow reach, control and land a drop-volley; Djokovic applauds. But a third unforced error in the game hands over break point at 30-40, and already, this is intense and intensifying; good! Then Alcaraz goes long on another forehand, and Djokovic leads 2-0 without having had to do very much.
This match isn’t just a match. If Alcaraz wins comfortably, it might be time to wonder whether Djokovic’s time as a grand-slam contender is over; he’s not won one since the 2023 US Open. And even if he does win, will he be able to beat Alexander Zverev then Jannik Sinner, which is what he’ll probably need to do to lift the trophy? If he can, it’ll be one of the all time great achievements, even by Djokovic’s stratospheric standards; he holds to 30 to lead 1-0.
We’re ready, Djokovic to serve, and … play.
This match, says Coach Calv, “will come down to who is striking it better and have to feel that will be Alcaraz.”
He’ll be relieved to know I’m in agreement; Djokovic isn’t quite as consistent a hitter as he once was, but he might do better with the wind because he’s not looking to do as much with the ball and will be more experienced in handling such conditions.
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But here come our players on to Laver, so what’s going to happen?
But before we get on to that, we must credit Pavlyuchenkova, who played wonderfully well for a set and a bit. If she can maintain that level she can be a serious proposition in women’s tennis; not many are equipped to give Sabalenka fits like that.
Coming up next: Novak Djokovic (7) v Carlos Alcaraz (3)!
Sabalenka says she was just praying, trying to put the ball back in tough conditions – they both were. Pavlyuchenkova played great and she’s happy she was able to magically win this match, thanking the crowd for their support and saying they can now enjoy Djokovic v Alcaraz, which will be better tennis. I dunno, it’ll have to go some to be more absorbing than the match we’ve just seen, but I guess she’s not happy with how she played.
Asked about losing a set at this competition for the first time since 2023, she says sometimes it’s good to be tested and she can’t wait to play Paula. And finally, asked about her tiger tatt, she says she had it a month before she was 18, was born in the year of the tiger, and was dreaming of getting it for six months so did. Now, it’s a reminder never to give up, to stay aggressive, hungry and to push yourself whatever’s going on in your life. Rybakina got one after winning Wimbledon, she says, and if she wins she’ll spike her team’s drinks then have a tattoo artist come and sort them out while they’re sleeping.
Next for Sabalenka: Paulo Badosa. That should be a fantastic match because Badosa is another able to hit with anyone. She’s in the form of her life and the Pavlyuchenkova template – don’t retreat, hit flat and hard into the spaces – is one she can adapt for herself.
Aryna Sabalenka beats Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 2-6 6-3
A fantastic performance from Pavlyuchenkova who couldn’t quite play well enough for long enough. So the champ found a way, but the recipe for beating her is now there for all to see: play two full sets of perfect tennis.
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A return goes long, then Sabalenka nets, then a return goes long; 30-15. A brutal serve down the T then sets up the forehand putaway, and the champ has two match points…
Pavlyuchenkova is also serving from the windy end, not what she needs at this critical juncture, and an immediate, nervous double, gives her a problem … which she resolves with a backhand winner down the line. But another error, when a Sabalenka forehand bounces higher than expected, means she’s down 15-30, but again she quickly levels the game. These are the days of her life; can she embrace them? The breeze is up and takes her first serve away from her, Sabalenka missing a chance by reaching for and snatching at her second, but she can’t close out, netting a forehand that takes us to deuce. There’s a sense of inevitability about this now, Pavlyuchenkova playing a little less well as Sabalenka plays a little better, errors from the former then the latter meaning we’re back at deuce, break point saved. But another mistake from the Russian, a forehand into the net, mean another break point, and when the first serve goes long we think we can guess what’s coming. And we can, a backhand return asking the question and Pavlyuchenkova just a little slow to get down – I’m not surprised, she must be flagging after what she’s put into this – and the ball hits the net! Sabalenka will now serve for the match at 5-3 in the third!
Pavlyuchenkova has reached the last eight of every major but only gone beyond in Paris, so the gravity of the situation will not be lost on her – all the more so given she’s playing the match of her life. No one wants to do the best they can and lose, but pressure is amping up because Sabalenka is serving well now, securing a swift hold for 4-3.
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Well in the first point, Sabalenka chucks in an injudicious drop, relieving pressure for no reason, and a service-winner follows. And though a forehand winner down the line makes 30-15, two overhit groundstrokes mean Pavlyuchenkova has her hold and will feel like she’s overcome her blip. It’s 3-3 in the third.
At various points during the last 10 days, watching apparently close matches, I’ve said we know the favourite will do the necessary in the end. This has not been that, at all, but Pavlyuchenkova might just’ve run out of perfection and to win this match, that’s really what she needs. Sabalenka isn’t playing that much better than before, but she’s that good, all she needs is for her opponent to drop a little and she’s too much. She holds to love for 3-2, and this next game is absolutely crucial; if the champ breaks, expect her to accelerate to the line; if she doesn’t, it’s anyone’s. Well, one of two’s.
Up 0-15, Sabalenka can’t get after a second serve as she should, but Pavlyuchenkova obliges her with an error, then sends down a double for 0-40. And might she be dipping? Though the champ continues to hit at, rather than away from her, she nets a forehand when there was no need to and we’re level at 2-2 in the third, the sense that momentum is shifting.
The wind is again a problem as Sabalenka serves, and at 0-15, spooked, a double puts her under pressure. Pavlyuchenkova then finds a testing return exactly when she needs one, planting it on to the line right next to her opponent who, cramped, can’t adjust to get it back, and that’s 0-40! A return then sails long, but the next zips flat over the net, bounces just inside the line, and underneath Sabalenka’s racket! The champ is broken for the fifth time in a row! I know! And Pavlyuchenkova leads 2-1 in the decider! But can she consolidate this time?
Sabalenka needs to move Pavlyuchenkova about and she does to make 0-15, only to haul a forehand wide next point. A return then sails long, but a backhand catches Paylyuchenkova as she comes in and at 30-all, this feels like a crucial moment in the match; we’ve not yet had a big deuce game; I wonder if this could be it. And have a look! Both players hit like you can’t believe – except you can believe – roaring and shrieking with the intensity of effort, but it’s Pavlyuchenkova who’s hitting the spaces and she makes consolidation point, only for Sabalenka to quickly earn deuce. And she then restores deuce from advantage, twice, before finally finding the corners on the forehand to raise break-back point … and Pavlyuchenkova nets! Sabalenka levels at 1-1 in the third and might she have righted herself? She was picking empty spots in that game, rather than spamming nails groundstrokes directly at her opponent, but can she keep at it?
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Pavlyuchenkova, now in lilac, does not respect Sabalenka’s second serve, clouting a forehand winner down the line for 15-30 before coming in to punch a shoulder-high volley on to the line, raising two break points! A forehand winner saves the first, and this might be the match here, the champ landing a first serve but, when the return sits up, she hammers a forehand into the tape! Pavlyuchenkova leads 1-0 in the decider and Sabalenka has a very significant problem! Her opponent is playing perfectly!
Righto, our players are back with us and off we go: the biggest set of the tournament so far starts here.
That was the first set Sabalenka has lost at the Australian Open since the 2023 final and it will have given her a shock; nothing we saw in the first suggested that was possible never mind likely, but Pavlyuchenkova is hitting early and flat, from on the baseline, and Sabalenka is struggling to read her or to set. Who knows, maybe she comes back on to court – both players have left – and finds the lines. But she’s not used to being outhit and might need a strategic solution, not just to play better.
If Sabalenka’s level had dropped because things had got too easy and she’d lost focus, you’d expect her to sort herself in the decider. But she’s being outplayed and out-thought, Pavlyuchenkova’s more cunning and – seriously! – more aggressive hitting leaving her befuddled. The Russian serves out to love and this is a brilliant match; I cannot wait for the decider. Sabalenka 6-2 2-6 Pavlyuchenkova
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Nothing is easy for Sabalenka now; I don’t think I’ve ever seen Pavlyuchenkova play better. Rather than adapt her game she’s playing hers as well as she can, and at 30-all she races to the net playing almost a cricket shot, racket on the wrong side of her body, and volleys a luscious drop-winner to raise set point. She’s squealing with every shot now, Sabalenka roaring, and another long rally ensues, Pavlyuchenkova the more active participant, and when the error comes, that seals a 5-2 second-set lead! The champ is in trouble here – she’s not finding solutions.
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Pavlyuchenkova is forcing Sabalenka to hit before she’s ready – I mentioned the shortened backswing below, but she’s also refusing to be pushed behind the baseline. So down 30-0, Sabalenka changes tack, chipping her return and coming to the net; it works well. But though she levels the game, a tame point means she’s soon down 40-30 … only for the Russian to do all the work necessary to secure her hold before overhitting her putaway. Deuce, and pressure. All the more so when Pavlyuchenkova feeds Sabalenka’s forehand, the resultant winner giving her advantage; a long rally ensues, slice to slice, then the champ strokes a gorgeous backhand – it’s almost a table-tennis shot, a kind of sideways slice – that curls away from her opponent and filches one break back with an unfathomable winner. Sabalenka leads 6-2 2-4.
Now it’s Pavlyuchenkova stepping into court to strike early and hard; another winner makes 0-15 and Sabalenka has some thinking to do, all the more so when a forehand winner, leathered flat and cross, leaves the champ flat-footed. A monstrous ace out wide follows, but when Pavlyuchenkova gets after a second serve the response is timid and, at 15-40, she has a chance for a second break. A ninja forehand, unleashes cross-court, confiscates the first opportunity and Sabalenka reasons with herself angrily: why isn’t she doing this on every point? Well, she’s not being allowed to, and when a return, whipped flat on the backhand, arrives too quickly for her to set and she’s caught with the racket on the wrong side, she can only flick it around her legs and net! Sabalenka leads 6-2 1-4, and this is no a very serious match. Pavlyuchenkova is playing beautifully, her now-shortened backswing having balls upon the champ before she can ready to unleash. We might just have a classic brewing here.
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She quickly makes 30-0 and is playing pretty much as well as she can now, a forehand from Sabalenka dropping long for 40-15. And when a return is dumped into the net, Pavlyuchenkova has her 3-1 second-set lead; the question is whether she’s good enough to play well enough for long enough to see out the set.
Pavlyuchenkova hangs in a 12-shot rally … then comes the 13th, a wahey of a forehand winner that’s far too good for anyone. An error then gives 30-0, the Russian gently resting her racket on the court in lieu of the absolute thrashing she really wants to give it; paging Daniil Medvedev. Anyroad, we wind up at deuce from 40-0 because Pavlyuchenkova hits consistently for perhaps the first time in the match, and when Sabalenka is cramped a little on the backhand, she nets. Break point to the Russian and this is a crucial juncture, the champ unloading ball after ball and getting the same back, before Pavlyuchenkova, having pushed Saba back with the cleanliness of her hitting, annihilates a forehand winner down the line! That is fantastic behaviour, five points in a row and the Russian trails 2-6 2-1! But can she consolidate?
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Mathias, Pavlyuchenkova’s boyfriend, is wearing his customary silk pyjamas. Pavlyuchenkova herself, though, is somewhat less leisurely, forced to fight through deuce for her hold. We’re 1-1 in the second, Sabalenka by one set to love.
I said earlier that I expected Pavlyuchenkova to vary angles, speeds and spins, but we’ve seen almost none of that; she’s just trying to play her best game. That makes some sense and perhaps against so ridiculous an opponent it’s hard to do anything else. But I don’t think it’s possible for her to win like this because she’s doing nothing to take Sabalenka out of comfort zone, or to ask questions she can’t easily answer; currently, she’s just a much less good version of similar, and Sabalenka holds to 30 to lead 6-2 1-0.
Now it’s Pavlyuchenkova struggling with the wind, a double followed by a foot-fault chasing a ball-toss … soon converted into a second double. She makes 30-all, though, then opens shoulders and unfurls forehands to raise game point … only to overhit when at the net with plenty at which to aim. Deuce, and for the second time, Sabalenka is within two points of the set … one when Pavlyuchenkova goes long on the forehand and we see how little spin she puts on her second serve relative to her opponent, 866 rpm versus 2039. She does, though, save set point, only to immediately hand over another, and a running forehand winner, lasered cross-court, secures a 6-2 set for the champ. Sabalenka looks unstoppable, and the way she’s going she might one day be immortal.
Sabalenka’s ability to suddenly up the pace beyond where her opponent can reach is unprecedented, her joyous thwacking almost cartoonish; you can see her depicted as a girl forever with a tennis racket, able to defeat giants and monsters with her forehand. But at 30-0 she pauses between serves for the wind to drop, then sends down a double anyway … then another. The breeze is behind her, we’re told, and she takes off a bit of pace, then leaps into a forehand winner, exploded down the line in typical fashion, before an inside-out animal into the corner makes 5-2
Excellent from Pavlyuchenkova, racing through a love hold, sealed with a kiss an ace. Sabalenka leads 4-2 in the first.
Pavlyuchenkova finds a fine forehand return to force deuce, and once, Sabaklenka might’ve tottered. Here, though, she simply maintains power and rushes through deuce, holding for 4-1 and showing that she can either finish rallies quickly or stop in them until her opponent errs.
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On which point there’s no Coco Gauff to apply brakes. I’m not surprised she lost to Paula Badosa, who’s been on the cusp of something for years and might have finally worked out how to control her colossal game. But expecting someone to dethrone the two-time defending champ in their first slam semi feels hopeful, especially given the way Sabalenka is playing. She’s never been more confident and it was the absence thereof that made her vulnerable previously; nowadays, she’s closer to impregnable.
Pavlyuchenkova hits long to cede 15-30, then Sabalenka shows the other side of her game, switching grip to chop a terrific drop that’s far too good; two break points. And she only needs one, a second serve sitting up and allowing her to neck a cuppa before punishing a backhand winner down the line. Sabalenka leads 3-1 in the first, and looks unstoppable.
A love-hold for Sabalenka although, on the final point of the game, Pavlyuchenkova gets after a second serve. In the event, her follow-up drops long, but I’d not be surprised if part of her plan was exactly that. The champ leads 2-1.
A love-hold for Pavlyuchenkova, who’ll feel much better for that. She’s more solid than spectacular, but she’s plenty of know-how and her aim will be, I imagine, to stick in points and encourage Sabalenka to overhit, changing angles and spins. We’re 1-1 in the first.
And she’s into stride immediately, booming serves and forehands taking her to 40-0 in no time at all, and though she then overhits, normal service is swiftly resumed and she closes out to 15 from there. She is devastating and the game has never seen anything like her.
Thanks Joey and hi everyone. We’re ready to get going on Laver, and what a dig this should be. Real talk, it’s hard to not to look upon our first match as an amuse-bouche, except no match featuring Aryna Sabalenka could ever be that.
As Sabalenka and Pavlyuchenkova make their way on to Rod Laver Arena, I’ll use that as my cue to put you in the very capable hands of Daniel Harris to take you through all the action.
I’ve been Joey Lynch and thank you ever so much for your company over the past few hours.
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We’re moments away from Aryna Sabalenka (1) and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (27) getting started on Rod Laver Arena, the two-time defending champion – in her first ever major as a top seed – hoping to continue a dominant run of form.
Not only has Sabalenka yet to drop a set in this tournament but, after winning the Australian and US Opens in 2024, she is the youngest player to win 18 consecutive grand slam matches on hard court since Serena Williams did so between 2002 and 2004. If she wins tonight, she will become the youngest to win 19 on the bounce since Martina Hingis went on an incredible run of 27 consecutive hard-court wins between the 1997 Australian and 1998 US Opens.
Ready to rumble ⚡#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/vtwUljXVKq
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
Bopanna and Zhang have cruised to the first set against Aussie pair Gadecki and Peers, taking out the first set 6-2 on Kia Arena.
Women’s wheelchair second seed Aniek Van Koot has taken the first set 6-1 against Zhenzhen Zhu, while fourth seed Jiske Griffioen took her first set against Mariska Venter 6-3. Out on Court Eight, Angelica Bernal beat Saki Takamuro 6-3 6-2 to advance from their first round women’s wheelchair clash.
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Five of the 18 competitors to reach the quarter-finals of this year’s mens and women’s draws were from the United States, the most since 2003.
Coco Gauff’s (3) upset loss to Paula Badosa (11) and Alexander Zverev’s (2) win over Tommy Paul (12), however, means that things haven’t gotten off for the best start for the Americans in their attempts to dominate the ranks of the final four.
We’ll have to wait until tomorrow – when Ben Shelton (21) faces unseeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego, Madison Keys (19) meets Elina Svitolina (28), and Emma Navarro (8) looks to upstage Iga Swiatek (2) – to see if their fortunes improve.
Aryna's title defence will continue 🔜 on the RLA 😍@SabalenkaA #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/5MUbTr6bZt
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
Currently in action on Kia Arena, you may remember Rohan Bopanna from last year’s Australian Open, where he and partner Matthew Ebden won the men’s double and, in the process, the 43-year-old Indian became the oldest man in the Open era to win a major men’s title.
Now 44, he and partner Nicolás Barrientos were eliminated in the first round of men’s doubles by Pedro Martínez and Jaume Munar last week but he’s now into the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles with partner Shuai Zhang.
And I gotta say, the silver in his beard makes him look like an absolute don.
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If you’re hanging around waiting for the singles action to commence on Rod Laver Arena, I can heartily reccomend this from Tumaini Carayol to help you pass the time.
In the aftermath of a strong comeback win that put her into the 12th grand slam quarter-final of her career, Elina Svitolina left Rod Laver Arena fully aware that her most difficult task of the day was still to come. She warmed down, showered, completed her media obligations and ate her post‑match meal, then returned to the courts as a spectator, sitting in the front row of the courtside coaching boxes on Margaret Court to cheer on her husband, Gaël Monfils, in his own fourth‑round match against Ben Shelton.
Looking out at the live action in Melbourne, the second seeded mixed doubles pair Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus have lost an opening set tie break on Margaret Court Arena and trail the eighth seeded duo of Andres Molteni and Asia Muhammad.
Women’s wheelchair fourth seed Jiske Griffioen is up an early break on South African qualifier Mariska Venter in their opening round match on Court Five, with second seed Aniek Van Koot soon to begin her match against Zhenzhen Zhu.
Wheelchair events are bigger and better than ever on #AO2025 All Abilities Day 🙌https://t.co/7XVIrLIN5U
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
For the locals, the Aussie duo of Olivia Gadecki and John Peers are about to start their mixed doubles clash with China’s Shuai Zhang and Indian Rohan Bopanna.
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In some of the other recently concluded matches, women’s wheelchair top seed Yui Kamiji hasn’t dropped a game on her way past Shiori Funamizu in their opening round match, while third seed Ziying Wang has advanced past French qualifier Charlotte Fairbank in straight sets.
In the men’s wheelchair singles, second seed Alfie Hewett has eased past Frenchman Stephane Houdet in their opening round clash.
Still plenty to come on Day 10 of the Australian Open, with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka next up on Rod Laver Arena, looking to continue her dominant run against 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
After that, we’ll have a showdown between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
Alexander Zverev (2) defeats Tommy Paul (12) 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-0) 2-6 6-1
Zverev brings up another match point but, incredibly, Paul stays alive again, busting a gut and playing some remarkable defence to keep the point alive before the second seed sends a shot long. It eventually goes to deuce as the American pushed for a miracle but Zverev will not be denied, seeing the game off and setting up a meeting with either Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
For Paul, there’s going to be a somewhat bitter aftertaste to this one. He was in a position to serve out the first and second sets, only for Zverev to work his way back into both and force a tiebreak. And once in those, unforced errors cost the American as was hardly able to lay a glove on his opponent; losing both by a combined score of 14-1.
“I should have been down two sets to love,” Zverev admits on court, saying that Paul had his number in the opening sets.
Regardless, Zverev has survived #FeatherGate and is now just two wins away from a first ever grand slam win.
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Zverev gets it to match point but Paul produces something very special to stay alive, sprinting across court and somehow finding a way to send a running backhand past the German at the net and bring it back to deuce.
The American then holds serve, ensuring that the second seed will need to hold serve to see this match out.
Zverev is cooking with gas now, hitting more on his first serve than he has in any of the previous three sets. He holds serve once more, just one more break or hold of serve now required to move into the final four of the men’s draw.
The finish to this one looks like it’s rapidly approaching, as Zverev breaks Paul once again to take a 4-0 lead in the fourth.
He opens his next serve with a powerful ace.
Top seed Yui Kamiji is making quick work of things in her round one women’s wheelchair clash on Court Five, the two-time Australian Open winner not dropping a game on the way to taking the first set against Shiori Funamizu.
On Court Six, men’s second seed Alfie Hewett has taken out the first set of his men’s wheelchair opening round meeting with Frenchman Stephane Houdet.
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Zverev spots Paul creeping up to the net at 15-30 and wellies a shot right at him to tie things up. It goes to deuce where the German takes it, riding 216 and 219 km/h serves to a hold and a 3-0 lead in the fourth.
Regaining control 🕹️
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
After losing the third set, Zverev navigates a 3-0 lead in the fourth.#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/JAeRZCD7Sf
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Despite being up two sets to one, Zverev hadn’t been ahead a break in this match entering the fourth set. He has now, though, breaking Paul’s opening service of the fourth to seize the initiative.
Paul has fired in more aces and winners than Zverev by almost twofold throughout this contest but unforced errors -- especially during the two tiebreaks -- are costing him, making 47 compared with the German’s 32
Zverev ensures that it won’t be three sets in a row in which Paul gets an early break, holding serve to open the fourth set.
Out on Court Five on the Australian Open’s All Abilities Day, women’s wheelchair top seed Yui Kamiji is up an early break on wildcard Shiori Funamizu in her opening round match, while on Court 6 Stephane Houdet has got a break back against men’s wheelchair second seed Alfie Hewett in the opening set of their encounter.
On Court Seven, men’s wheelchair third seed Martin De la Puente has wrapped up his match with Zhenxu Ji, winning 6-1 6-1
There’s fight left in Paul yet, as the American takes out the third set.
A huge shot from the 12th seed to bring up 30-0 sets the tone, a big forearm winner driven behind Zverev. After a backhand brings up three set points, the German’s attempt to drop a deft shot over the net falls short and gives Paul the set.
Paul Power 🔋
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
Tommy Paul unleashes on a forehand down the line! ⚡️@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/2DAXU0sNbx
We’re off to a fourth set, Zverev leading Paul 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-0) 2-6; obviously the easiest way to avoid the second seed’s dominance in tie breaks is to simply not play them
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After both hold serve, a potentially huge moment for Paul arrives when he breaks Zverev again, going up 5-2 in this third set and giving him hope, no matter how faint, of forcing his way back into this contest.
We’ve got a pretty big upset out on Kia Arena, as the men’s doubles top seeds and No 1 ranked team in the world Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic have been eliminated by Andre Goransson and Sem Verbeek!
The Swede and Dutchman broke their Salvadorian and Croatian opponents in the third set to put them on course for the boilover, setting up a semi-final with Italian third seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori.
A big jump smash from Paul sees him hold serve. We’re seeing some level of improvement in his first serve across his opening two services after it fell off in the second set.
Two tiebreaks, one point lost 😮💨
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
Zverev has raised his level when it’s mattered most and leads Paul 7-6(1) 7-6(0)!#AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/FJWbNtWjPr
We have another feather on the court! This time it slowly floats down before Zverev can serve to make it 40-0, causing him to pause briefly and stare it down on its way to the court.
He gets the point and while Paul starts to make things interesting by winning the next two points, Zverev takes the game with an ace fired down the T.
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It’s deja vu all over again, as Paul gets the early break in Zverev’s opening service of this third set and then gets the hold, pinning his opponent behind the baseline and inducing a forehand into the net.
There’s been an early break for Andre Goransson and Sem Verbeek out on Kia Arena as they attempt to upset the top-seeded men’s pairing of Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo, serving at 3-1 in the third and decisive set.
On Court Three, men’s wheelchair third seed Martin De la Puente is up a set over Chinese qualifier Zhenxu Ji, while second seed Alfie Hewett has an early break in the first set of his match with Stephane Houdet on Court Six.
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Zverev takes the second set in a dominant tie break. A powerful winner from the German makes it 6-0 and brings up six set points as the two change ends, Paul briefly pausing for a drink while the German moves straight to the baseline in preparation for his serve.
Paul is only just able to keep his return of the 215 km/h serve in and Zverev pounces, using his powerful backhand to take the point and the second set.
Just as he did in the first set, Paul got the break and had the chance to serve out for the set only for Zverev to fight back and force a tie break. Once there, there was only going to be one winner – the second seed now leading by a combined 14-1 in those tie breaks.
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The tiebreak begins and it quickly starts to resemble the one that decided the first set, Zverev bursting out of the blocks to take a 5-0 lead – he’s now leading Paul 12-1 across the two played in this match.
A slight delay after Zverev races to a 40-0 lead, the German needing to fix his man bun up before he can look to serve the game out. Suitably coiffed, he sends a powerful serve down the middle that Paul can’t return.
We’re off to another tie break at Rod Laver Arena, this quarter-final clash having just gone past the two-hour mark.
Headed to a second set tiebreak! #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/rijkCLM7T4
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
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Paul holds serve, making it 6-5 in this second set and throwing the onus back on Zverev.
Out on Kia Arena, the top-seeded men’s doubles team of Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo have taken out the second set against Andre Goransson and Sem Verbeek, the latter duo holding serve to start the decisive third.
Paul is able to bring up a break and set point but Zverev rallies back to force a deuce and then move into the advantage with a special drop shot that the American can’t return inbound.
A third double fault of the match brings it back to deuce but Paul’s attempt to charge the net and give himself another opportunity at a set point backfires, putting his shot out and handing advantage to Zverev, which he uses to hold.
Not so fast my friend! Zverev races out of the blocks to bring up three break points and only needs one of them, an attempted backhand from Paul sailing long and bringing the match back on serve in the second.
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Zverev will make Paul serve to win this set, re-directing his frustrations and quickly producing a hold.
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Embedding this for no reason in particular …
Of course, those familiar with Melbourne will now that it has a rather long history with avian involvement in sports, the MCG having previously used a wedge-tailed eagle to scare pesky birdlife from events and AAMI Park at times looking more like a seagull sanctuary than a stadium.
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Zverev drops the opening point of his service but then roars back, winning the next four to hold serve.
He subsequently brings up two break points on Paul but the American rallies back to force deuce, Zverev immediately remonstrating with a chair official that a rowdy spectator had put him off.
The duo exchange advantages before Zverev again arks up, this time furious that a let was called when a feather dropped on to the court mid-point – gifting Paul another first serve. Two points later, Paul holds serve and is now just one game away from tying this game up at a set apiece.
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Tumaini Carayol was on hand to watch Paula Badosa upset Coco Gauff earlier today and has penned this reaction.
It has been 10 months since Paula Badosa was informed by her doctors that her career might be over. During the 2023 tennis season, not long after she had stood as the No 2 player in the world, Badosa suffered a debilitating stress fracture in her back that had left her in significant pain and forced her to withdraw from every grand slam tournament that year. By last March, the 27 year-old was fighting for her career.
It’s all over out on court six, as men’s wheelchair top seed Tokito Oda has wrapped up the second set of his opening round match against local Anderson Parker, winning 6-0 6-3.
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Zverev gets on the board in this second set as he holds to love. Paul, though, has an instant reply, not dropping a point himself as he holds serve and takes a 4-1 lead in this second set.
We’ve got a potential upset brewing out on Kia Arena, as Sem Verbeek and Andre Goransson have taken out the opening set against top seeded men’s duo Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo.
Paul’s hot start to the second set has continued, holding serve to make it 3-0 in this second set.
On the charge ⚡️
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
Tommy Paul leads 3-0 in the second set!#AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/ff7G4moJft
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Paul keeps the momentum from that first game going, kissing a backhand winner past his opponent to break Zverev’s serve. It’s just what the American needed after losing that opening set, a stat flashing up on the host broadcaster showing that he wins 87% of sets after getting an early break.
Second serve continues to hamper the men’s second seed, he’s winning just 42% of points when he can’t land his serve at the first time of asking.
A serve to love from Paul as this second set begins at Rod Laver Arena.
The men’s 12th seed exchanged a further few words with the chair umpire between sets, still not happy about that non-let call during the first set tie-break, but he’s going to need to get his head in the game: Zverev has a record of 25 wins against two losses when winning the first set at grand slams.
On some of the other action already under way, the top seeded men’s team of Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic have just begun their quarter-final meeting with Andre Goransson and Sem Verbeek out on Kia Arena, while men’s wheelchair No 1 one seed Tokito Oda didn’t drop a game on the way to taking out the first set of his opening round match against Australian wildcard Anderson Parker.
We’ve also just concluded a bit of a barnburner out on Margaret Court Arena, with the third seeded team of Su-Wei Hsieh and Jelena Ostapenko getting past Marta Kostyuk and Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the third set of their women’s doubles quarter-final, winning 6-2 5-7 7-5.
Two hours and twenty minutes - no worries says Hsieh 😅#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/dnhnVZTR8b
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
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If you’re just logging on to check in on the status of this men’s quarter-final, you’ll have missed women’s eleventh seed Paula Badosa advancing to her first ever grand slam semi-final after upsetting American third seed Coco Gauff in straight sets, winning 7-5 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.
First Grand Slam semifinal, first win against a Top 10 opponent in a Grand Slam - Paula Badosa, this was a lesson in class and conviction 👏👏@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • @paulabadosa • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/O14jgI05KT
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
In some of the other results already logged today, the second seeded duo of Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe advanced to the women’s doubles semi-finals with a straight set win over Miyu Kato and Renata Zarazua, while the third-seeded Italian duo of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori moved into the final four of the men’s doubles after a straight sets win over Portuguese pair Nuno Borges and Francisco Cabral.
Tuesday marking All Abilities Day at the Australian Open, quad Wheelchair world No 1 Sam Schroder beat Ymanitu Silva in their opening round match, with wins also recorded by second seed Niels Vink, third seed Guy Sasson, and fourth seed Ahmet Kaplan. In the men’s wheelchair singles, Argentine fourth seed Gustavo Fernandez won his first round match 7-6 (9-7) 6-1 over Japan’s Takuya Miki.
The first set goes to Zverev. A cheeky lob from the third seed is too high for Paul to reach and all he can do is tip it backward off the top off his racquet.
There’s some disagreement from the American in the aftermath, making it was clear he thought it was a let and didn’t go all out as a result. There are no net machines here at the Australian Open, it’s the umpires making the calls.
The German then makes it 6-6 (6-1) with a well-placed forehand beyond Paul and into the corner to bring up set point, which he quickly converts.
Some turnaround 🔁
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
Tommy Paul served for the set at 6-5, Zverev broke and then dominated the tiebreak 7-6(1) 👏#AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/wAMMKXH1JF
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Thanks Martin and hello everyone, Joey Lynch here to take you through the rest of Paul and Zverev on Rod Laver, plus keeping you up to date on what else is happening around Melbourne Park.
Zverev has taken an early advantage in this tiebreak, earning a mini-break and now set to serve with a 6-6 (4-1) lead.
Updated
Paul* v Zverev 6-6: Zverev breaks back and they’re off to a tiebreaker. The German finally piles some pressure on a Paul service game as he comes to the net and smashes an overhead forehand for 0-30. Paul then loops a forehand chip into the corner to stay alive in the next point and eventually outlasts Zverev in a testing rally. An ace takes Paul to set point but the No 12 seed tightens up – a long backhand, a double fault and then another error on the backhand gives Zverev his first break of the match.
Thanks for following along as the quarter-finals get under way at Melbourne Park. Joey Lynch will steer us through the tiebreaker on RLA. Enjoy …
Updated
Paul v Zverev* 6-5: Tommy Paul breaks and will serve for the set! Zverev misses his first serve three times in a row as Paul pulls away to 0-40. The American tests Zverev with his slicing backhand and finishes him off with a forehand down the line for 30, then sets up three break points with an exquisite backhand that spins on a dime. Zverev drags himself back to 30-40 despite missing two more first serves, but Paul forces an error to seal the first break of serve in the match.
Paul* v Zverev 5-5: Paul starts with a pair of aces then breezes through the rest of his service game to love. Zverev is yet to challenge his opponent’s serve as we close in on a tiebreaker.
Updated
Paul v Zverev* 4-5: Zverev’s first serve isn’t quite at its usual high standard and consistency with 63% landed today, while a double fault takes the game to 30-30. But an ace then another powerful serve brush aside those concerns and leaves Paul serving to stay in the set.
Paul* v Zverev 4-4: Paul attacks the T with consecutive serves and Zverev fails to make enough contact to return either for 40-0. The German gets the next serve back over the net but a lack of penetration allows Paul to come forward and hold in little more than a minute.
Paul v Zverev* 3-4: Zverev sends Paul dashing around the court for 30-15 then sends down a bomb for his first ace of the match. The American nets a forehand off a 220km/h serve as Zverev holds with his simplest service game so far.
Updated
Paul* v Zverev 3-3: Paul holds serve again without being truly tested as he has only dropped five points across three service games. The American is pushing Zverev well back behind the baseline with his powerful forehand without making too many errors.
Paul v Zverev* 2-3: Paul sets up the first break point of the match and faces an uncommon Zverev second serve but is unable to seal the deal as he sends a forehand long early in a rally. The American was too impatient with a break on the line. Zverev holds from deuce as he hammers a forehand winner to close out the game.
Paul* v Zverev 2-2: Paul fires in the first of what will likely be many aces in this match-up with a 214 km/h rocket for 30-15. The American is opening up the court off his forehand as he nails a winner then sets the next point on the same side and finishes it off overhead closer to the net.
Paul v Zverev* 1-2: Zverev holds easier this time off the back of errors from Paul even as the American is able to return effectively and work his way into a series of rallies.
Paul* v Zverev 1-1: Paul double faults early for 15-15 but punishes Zverev’s returns to hold comfortably.
Paul v Zverev* 0-1: A fast start for Zverev as a trio of errors from Paul take the German to 40-0. Paul tidies up his returns to climb back for deuce but Zverev’s second serve is too hot to handle as he twice attacks off a fault.
Updated
Tommy Paul started slowly at Melbourne Park with a five-setter in the opening round against Australia’s Chris O’Connell, then dropping a set against Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the following round. But the No 12 seed has found form with a pair of straight sets victories since then including a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 thumping of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the round of 16.
The players are in place on RLA with No 2 seed Alexander Zverev to serve first.
Alexander Zverev and Tommy Paul are on RLA warming up under the scorching sun after the German has been open about preferring to play at night and away from the heat.
Ready for this?
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
Alexander Zverev faces Tommy Paul for a place in the semifinals! #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/Lk6rDgIlsd
The first men’s singles quarter-final is up next on Rod Laver Arena with Alexander Zverev (2) taking on Tommy Paul (12). The duo have faced off twice before, with Zverev taking out both clashes away from the spotlight of the grand slams. But those hard-court matches were back in 2020 and 2022 and both players have been on the rise since the first of those meetings in particular. Zverev will be out to match his semi-final appearance at Melbourne Park last year as well as in 2020, while Paul reached the last four here two years ago.
It turned into a day of firsts for Paula Badosa as the Spaniard dismantled No 3 seed Coco Gauff in their quarter-final. Badosa targeted the American’s forehand throughout and looked to get on the front foot at any opportunity, whether approaching the net or just attacking Gauff’s second serve – winning 76% of points on the latter.
Gauff was at her best when she moved towards the net but paid the price for having 25-10 unforced errors and failing to pressure Badosa’s serve often enough. Badosa had never won a set off a top-10 player at a grand slam before today, now she has won two to claim a spot in the semi-finals.
FIRST GRAND SLAM SEMIFINAL! #AO2025 🙌 @paulabadosa pic.twitter.com/BYUbE8bgN3
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
Updated
Paula Badosa (11) beats Coco Gauff (3) 7-5, 6-4
Paula Badosa is into her first grand slam semi-final after overpowering the No 3 seed Coco Gauff in straight sets. The Spaniard learns from her previous service game when she was a bit tame while serving for the match, this time firing in a pair of aces and finishing off Gauff with a winner from the return on match point.
The No 11 seed has overcome a chronic back injury to set up a semi-final against either Aryna Sabalenka (1) or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (27).
Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 4-5: Gauff holds to 30 but once again will have to break Badosa to stay alive in this quarter-final. The 20-year-old has started playing with a newfound freedom since Badosa’s double break pushed Gauff onto the ropes as she finally finds her range off the forehand.
Updated
Gauff v Badosa* 5-7, 3-5: Gauff breaks back to stay alive in this quarter-final. The American steps up with her Australian Open hopes on the line even as Badosa sends her running from side to side on the baseline. The American bravely puts aside the troubles with her forehand today as she pulls out a pair of winners then seals the break off the same side when forcing Badosa to hit high and wide. Now the No 3 seed needs to hold her serve.
Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 2-5: Double break for Badosa and the Spaniard will serve for a spot in her first grand slam semi-final. Gauff misses with a simple backhand for 0-15 but Badosa is unable to make the American pay a heavier price as she mis-times an overhead into an open court. The sun seems to be causing both players concerns at that one end of the court. Gauff pulls out a sensational forehand winner but then misses with much the same shot to hand Badosa a break point. A double fault has Gauff hanging on with Badosa to serve for the match.
Gauff v Badosa* 5-7, 2-4: Badosa holds to 15 as the unforced errors continue to mount up for Gauff. The American has hit 21 to Badosa’s seven and is running out of time to turn this around.
Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 2-3: Badosa breaks again! Gauff has lifted her intensity and pummels a backhand from out wide cross-court for 40-15. But a double fault and a backhand dragged into the net brings Badosa back to deuce. The Spaniard attacks the net from there and breaks off a pair of forehand volleys.
Gauff v Badosa* 5-7, 2-2: Gauff breaks for the first time in the match! Badosa continues to test Gauff’s forehand and starts with a chip that the American fails to return. A mishit Gauff return lands in the corner for 15-15 as she sends a wave of apology, then very much times a backhand to take set up her first two break points of the day. A long forehand from Badosa ties the second set.
Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 1-2: Gauff holds for the first time in three service games but Badosa remains threatening off her returns as the Spaniard stands aggressively just inside the baseline.
Gauff v Badosa* 5-7, 0-2: Badosa opens the door for Gauff with a double fault for 30-30 but soon closes it off a superb point from both players. The Spaniard is on the front foot looking to move towards the net and when Gauff tries to lob her is able to reach a high ball to smash a winner. Gauff nets a backhand as Badosa holds to 30.
Updated
Gauff* v Badosa 5-7, 0-1: Badosa breaks! The Spaniard is up and running for the start of the second set and quickly has another break point after a sloppy Gauff backhand. This time the American is able to save it with a scorching serve and volley off the return for deuce. Gauff moves to advantage four times, the third coming from an ace that she quickly gives up with a double fault, before Badosa claims four more break points. The No 11 seed completes the break as Gauff gets too far under a forehand from the baseline. Badosa is on top with her return of serve as that game took 13 minutes.
Gauff v Badosa* 5-7: Paula Badosa holds to take the first set 7-5 in 50 minutes. Gauff has her chances to break back immediately while facing a second serve at 30-30, but lacks the patience as she goes for a backhand down the line straight off the return and gets too far around the shot. Gauff then sends a forehand over the baseline off a short rally and will have to fight back from a set down for the second match in a row.
Updated
Gauff* v Badosa 5-6: Badosa breaks! The No 11 seed pulls out to 0-30 but is unable to make the most of a Gauff second serve with a lacklustre return that allows the American to take control of the point. The Spaniard confidently attacks on the backhand but is hits narrowly wide for 30-30, but then gets to the net and closes the door with a string of volleys before diving to her left with a backhand that sets up break point. A powerful forehand seals the break and Badosa will serve for the opening set.
Power, precision, Paula 👌@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • @paulabadosa • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/VqNOGsDHcC
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
Gauff v Badosa* 5-5: Badosa holds to 15 as the Spaniard lands more of her first serves. The No 11 seed has only dropped two points off her first serve but the concern is that she has only landed 45% of them.
Gauff* v Badosa 5-4: Gauff eases to 40-0 with a pair of confident winners off each side then gives up the first point off her serve for a couple of games with a double fault. The American sends Badosa wide with her next serve then comes forward to smash the return away and hold. The Spaniard needs to find a way to test Gauff on her serve more and will now serve to stay in the set.
Updated
Gauff v Badosa* 4-4: Gauff is largely untroubled off Badosa’s serve to take the game to 30-30 before the American nets twice off the forehand. The rallies are starting to stretch out longer as both players are happy to play down the middle of the court more.
Gauff* v Badosa 4-3: Gauff starts with an ace – her second the day – then holds to love in her most comfortable service game so far. This time it’s Badosa’s turn to misfire off the forehard.
Gauff v Badosa* 3-3: Badosa holds to 30 despite her first double fault of the match as we remain on serve on RLA.
Updated
Gauff* v Badosa 3-2: Gauff fires in her first ace of the day at 0-15 then patiently waits for a pair of errors on Badosa’s forehand. The No 3 seed sends Badosa scampering back and forth across the baseline then closes out the game to 15 with a blistering forehand while on the move.
Updated
Gauff v Badosa* 2-2: Gauff set ups well behind the baseline as she comfortably returns serve the waits for unforced errors from Badosa to pull away to 0-30. Gauff nets, hits wide then long as Badosa continues to target her opponent’s forehand but the American sets up the next point when clubbing cross-court off the same side for deuce. Gauff does the same with perhaps the shot of the day so far, hitting from deep in the right corner to the far left for another deuce before Badosa finally holds.
Updated
Gauff* v Badosa 2-1: Badosa sets up the first break points of the match as the Spaniard peppers Gauff’s forehand. But the No 3 seed serves her way out of trouble from 15-40 to fight back to deuce, as another powerful first serve and limp return takes Gauff to advantage. Three first serves in a row sail long to keep Badosa in the game until Gauff rediscovers her radar to hold. The importance of the first serve today has quickly become apparent.
Updated
Gauff v Badosa* 1-1: Badosa starts with an ace then Gauff sends a return long at. The Spaniard quickly finishes off a pair of rallies to race through her serve to love.
Updated
Gauff* v Badosa 1-0: Gauff starts with a comfortable hold as the 20-year-old’s poweful serve troubles Badosa from the get go.
Updated
Coco Gauff is ready to serve first against Paula Badosa. Let the quarter-finals begin …
Australia’s Alex de Minaur is another to reach a personal best at his home grand slam, brushing aside young American Alex Michelsen in straight sets last night to set up a quarter-final showdown with Jannik Sinner.
Jack Snape was at Melbourne Park to cover the No 8 seed as he reached the last eight at the Australian Open for the first time.
Gauff and Badosa are familiar opponents, having met eight times previously with the head-to-head tied at 4-4. Badosa has show signs of returning to her best especially in a three-set win when challenged by 17th seed Marta Kostyuk in the third round. This is the first time the Spaniard has reached the last eight at Melbourne Park as she now seeks a breakthrough grand slam semi-final.
Coco Gauff v Paula Badosa. Rod Laver Arena.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2025
WE CANNOT KEEP CALM 🤩🤩@CocoGauff • @paulabadosa • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/qsfkdkZsQp
Coco Gauff dropped a set for the first time at the 2025 Australian Open during the round of 16 before eventually overrunning the returning Belinda Bencic 5-7, 6-2, 6-1. The No 3 seed can expect another tough battle today against former world No 2 and 11th seed Paula Badosa who is rapidly returning to form after her career was threatened by a chronic back injury. Both players are arriving with plenty of bounce in their step as they make their way onto RLA.
Coco Gauff and Paula Badosa are warming up away from the heat and in the caverns of Melbourne Park, but a reminder of how the third seed progressed to the last eight and within one step of a much-anticipated match-up with world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
The temperature is heating up along with the action on the show courts with a high of 33C expected at Melbourne Park and sure to test the players during the day session.
The forecast for the rest of the week is a much more tennis-friendly low-to-mid 20s.
☀️A hot and partly cloudy day, though cooler by the coast.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) January 20, 2025
⛈️Isolated showers over the far eastern ranges during the afternoon and the chance of a thunderstorm.
🌬️Light winds, tending moderate south to southwesterly during the afternoon in western and central districts. pic.twitter.com/X2rtsACjSx
https://x.com/BOM_Vic/status/1881447792217886889
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of day 10 at the 2025 Australian Open and the start of the women’s and men’s singles quarter-finals.
First up on centre court from 11.30am AEDT will be Coco Gauff (3) and Paula Badosa (11) meeting for a spot in the last four to take on the winner of the Aryna Sabalenka (1) or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (27) quarter-final at 7pm this evening.
In the men’s singles, Alexander Zverev (2) faces Tommy Paul (12) this afternoon to decide who will await the victor of the mouth-watering Novak Djokovic (7) and Carlos Alcaraz (3) clash later this evening.
I’ll be focused on all the shots and scores on Rod Laver Arena but do let us know if you have anything to share out of, or away from, the main events whether on email, or @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!
