Australian Open 2024 LIVE updates: Zverev stuns Alcaraz in race to semi-final; Aussies in doubles, juniors action; Gauff takes on Sabalenka

Aussie legend Sam Stosur says Aryna Sabalenka has lifted her game to a new level at this year’s Australian Open.

“This has been just absolute domination in every single round,” Stosur said of the defending champion’s run at the Open.

Find out more below.

The last four men and women in the running for the Australian Open singles titles have been decided, and the names are not the ones expected.

Mark Petchey and Chris Stubbs preview all the action for day 12 of the Open.

Young Aussie thope Hayden Jones is stepping out on court 3 shortly to face Czech Jan Kumstat in the junior boys’ quarter-finals.

Jones, who trains in the National Academy with sister Emerson, is ranked No.23 in the ITF boys’ rankings. He’s also an Australian Junior Davis Cup representative.

Hayden Jones.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Hayden has made no secret of his desire to win the boys’ title.

Emerson will battle Sara Saito of Japan in the junior girls’ quarter-finals on the same court straight after her brother’s match.

Read more on the star siblings here.

Former tennis star and Nine commentator Sam Smith has tipped defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka to get revenge over Coco Gauff when they meet in their semi-final tonight.

Novak Djokovic is chasing his record 11th Australian Open title, but he faces a tough opponent in tomorrow’s semi-final, in-form Italian Jannik Sinner.

“I think that Jannik Sinner can upset him,” Aussie legend Lleyton Hewitt predicted.

“It is fifty-fifty. If Jannik Sinner can get off to a good start, he is in with a good shot.”

Last night, former world No. 1 and Australia’s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame.

This morning, he shared his thoughts on his bronze bust. He told Nine he had no idea how it would turn out.

“I didn’t see it until I unveiled it last night. That was a weird feeling,” he said.

The former Wimbledon champion said there had been some statues around the world that didn’t look like the people they were meant to represent, and he was a bit concerned.

“They asked for a lot of photos to be taken last year and I questioned it. To be honest, I would prefer it in my younger years and top of my game. But as it turned out, I am very happy with it.”

World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, who earlier looked like he could go all the way in this year’s Open, didn’t have the answers for the powerful game of Alexander Zverev last night.

“I didn’t make my chances, a lot of up and down with my tennis,” Alcaraz told reporters after the match.

“I didn’t find a good serve and he was returning very well. It was tough to deal with the pressure in every point …I have to improve.”

But Alcaraz said that this year’s Open was a good tournament for him overall.

“I’m sad with my level today because I’ve been playing good tennis in the round before. In general, I leave the tournament happy. In general, I think I did a pretty good tournament, played great matches and obviously a quarter-final of a grand slam is good. It’s not what I’m looking for, but it’s not bad,” he said.

“I had no idea”.

That’s the answer Open semi-finalist Qinwen Zheng gave former world No. 4 and Nine commentator Jelena Dokic when asked if she knew she’d be cracking the top 10 after her dream run in the slam.

The Chinese star is proving to be a crowd favourite, just like Li Na, who triumphed in Melbourne in 2014 and is back here this year, competing in the legends’ doubles.

She’s a force to be reckoned with on the court, and has listened to Li’s advice, who told her “just play, don’t think too much”, as Qinwen revealed after her semi-final victory against Russian Anna Kalinskaya.

Li, who has inspired generations of Chinese tennis players, made history when she defeated Dominika Cibulkova of Slovaka in the 2014 Open final in straight sets.

Li’s winning speech delighted and entertained the fans at the time.

Fans of the Chinese legend can catch her in action in mixed and women’s legends doubles at this year’s Open.