Australian Open 2024 LIVE updates: De Minaur pips Djokovic for Sunday night slot; Azarenka, Alcaraz make last 16

2-Carlos Alcaraz (Spa) d WC-Juncheng Shang (Chi) 6-1, 6-1, 1-0 (ret)

Saturday was a day of firsts for Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz. It was the first time in his 200 professional tour matches that the now 20-year-old played someone younger than him. Winning that match also means he will make his debut appearance in the second week of the Australian Open.

Carlos Alcaraz blitzed his way into the second week of the Australian Open.Credit: Eddie Jim

It almost seems strange that Alcaraz has never advanced to the fourth round at Melbourne Park, given his prodigious achievements in the sport so far.

Since his last appearance here, in 2022, the young gun notched up two grand slam titles (the US Open of that year, and last year’s Wimbledon, where he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final), and became the youngest man to reach world No.1. He missed the 2023 Australian Open due to a hamstring injury.

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What’s up first on centre court tonight?

The 7pm session has officially started and the roof is being opened in the balmy Melbourne conditions.

Iga Swiatek.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

First up women’s world No.1 Iga Swiatek takes on Czech Linda Noskova.

It shapes as a potentially testing night for the Pole who, to be fair, has had a tough draw so far, having to see off seasoned opponents Sofia Kenin and Danielle Collins.

Swiatek, a four-time major winner, would dearly love to drastically improve her record in Melbourne.

She has reached at least the round of 16 in each of the past four years and got to the semis once.

Swiatek is still a bit of a question mark Down Under.

The chants “RUUUUUDDDD” are again flying around John Cain Arena after No.11 Casper Ruud fought back from the verge of being two sets to love down to win the second set in a tiebreak 9-7.

His match with No.19 Cameron Norrie is now tied one set each and is shaping as great viewing as the night goes on.

Swiatek and Medvedev are both preparing to enter Rod Laver and Margaret Court Arenas respectively for the night sessions.

Casper Ruud.Credit: Getty

Melbourne Park is absolutely heaving today and more than 60,000 patrons have turned out for the day session with thousands more to pour through the gates tonight.

It’s the traditional ‘Super Saturday’ for the two-week event which, yes, for the first time, became a 15-day tournament in 2024.

Patrons enjoy the atmopshere on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images

So while the Australian Open officially started last Sunday, today was still the opening Saturday of the tournament.

And the fans loved absolutely loved the weekend action.

The congestion around the precinct or pressure points at certain locations was particularly noticeable as ever vantage point was taken in the warm but comfortable conditions.

Grand Slam Oval and Garden Square were jam-packed as patrons enjoyed the party vibe, partaking in the various drinks and food items on offer. The official day session attendance was 60,413.

There are still plenty of matches to be finished and a strong line-up of matches tonight with star players Iga Swiatek, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev in action.

Stay tuned for all the updates through the evening.

Novak Djokovic has already been pushed to four sets in two of his early matches at Melbourne Park but Australian great Rod Laver says engravers should get to work putting the world number one’s name on the Grand Slam trophy for an 11th time.

Djokovic is eyeing a record-extending Melbourne Park title that will also take him past Margaret Court’s haul of 24 majors but the Serb has not had it all his own way and was pushed hard by teenager Dino Prizmic and local hope Alexei Popyrin.

Laver, the only player to win the calendar Grand Slam twice, is still convinced Djokovic will glide past challengers after the 36-year-old downed Tomas Martin Etcheverry to set up a fourth round meeting with Adrian Mannarino.

“It’s almost like he’s priming himself to get through to the final,” 11-times Grand Slam winner Laver said on Saturday after arriving in Melbourne from California.

“He’ll lose a set somewhere in these five-setters and I’m thinking, ‘Is he having us on?’ because he could win this in two and two and two (6-2 6-2 6-2).”

Djokovic claimed last year’s title despite playing with a small tear in his hamstring and 85-year-old Laver, who has the centre court at the Australian Open named in his honour, said it would take something extraordinary to dethrone him.

“He’s such a great athlete to begin with, but his mind also is tennis and so he sees it almost unfold in front of him, just what he should be doing,” Laver said.

“That’s how he’s being a great champion.

“He serves well, his groundstrokes are unbeatable, so I have to believe, unless someone miraculously plays their best tennis to knock him off they can start putting part of his initials on the trophy now.”

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We are counting down to the start of the night session with Women’s No.1 Iga Swiatek ready to hit Rod Laver Arena for a clash with Czech teenager Linda Noskova from 7pm AEDT.

Alexander Zverev and Alex Michelsen will follow that match while Felix Auger-Aliassime and Daniil Medvedev face off on Margaret Court Arena from 7pm AEDT.

Felix Auger-Aliassime.Credit: Getty Images

No.18 Victoria Azarenka regained her service touch just in time to beat No.11 Jelena Ostapenko 6-1, 7-5 on Margaret Court Arena.

The two-time Australian Open champion struggled with her serve in the second set and had to fight off some break points in the last game of the match before serving to victory.

Victoria Azarenka.Credit: Getty Images

Unseeded Aussie mixed doubles pair Olivia Gadecki and Marc Polman have upset the fourth seeds in a 10-point tiebreak.

They are receiving a huge ovation on KIA Arena and look very happy with themselves, Gadecki smashed a forehand into the open court to seal the win 6-4, 6-7, 12-10 against Hoa-Ching Chan and Santiago Gonzalez

Marc Polmans and Olivia Gadecki.Credit: Getty Images

They needed six match points to take the win but it will matter not now.

Gadecki/Polman are a pair to watch in mixed doubles – they made the semi-finals last year in their first event playing together.

“They played some clutch tennis, Olivia and I will look forward to the next match,” Polman said.

“We want to stay here longer and keep playing.”