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Right, I\u2019m off for a breather, so John is here to take you through the start of Andreeva v Ruse and the second set of Bublik v Etcheverry, after Bublik took the first on a tie-break. Over to you John \u2026<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s interesting to see Zverev so relaxed, given he has a tendency to be perfectionistic and hard on himself, and if he can continue that mindset he\u2019s got a chance of finally going further than his three grand-slam runner-up spots. Though it would take something remarkable to deny Alcaraz (who\u2019s in his half of the draw) and Sinner. Such is their supremacy that Zverev, the world No 3, is closer in ranking points to the world No 1,000 than he is to Sinner, the world No 2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI was up for the task today,\u201d says Zverev. \u201cI thought Cameron\u2019s level today was the best when we\u2019ve played.\u201d Zverev\u2019s then asked by Barbara Schett if he warmed up for the left-hander Norrie by hitting with his brother, who\u2019s also a lefty. Zverev says Mischa, who\u2019s courtside, refuses to play with him now, and grabs the mic to go and ask him why. \u201cI destroy your rhythm, I shank too many balls,\u201d is the response. Zverev then tells Schett that if he wins the Australian Open<\/a> they\u2019re both cutting their hair at the barbers. \u201cI\u2019m not so sure about that,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Zverev defeats Norrie 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1<\/p>\n A final flourish from Norrie as he gets two chances to break, first at 30-40 and then at his advantage. But Zverev calmly restores order and brings up his first match point. And he seals it with an ace. A fine performance from last year\u2019s runner-up to extend his supremacy over Norrie to seven successive wins. It means there are no Brits left in the singles. Zverev will play Rublev\u2019s conqueror Cerundolo next.<\/p>\n Alexander Zverev (R) of Germany celebrates after winning against Cameron Norrie (L) of Great Britain. Photograph: Joel Carrett\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.32 EST<\/p>\n De Minaur speaks:<\/p>\n Frances is a hell of a competitor. Huge respect to him. I played some of my best tennis for two and a half sets and then he lifted it, started going big and taking the racket out of my hand. I just had to manage it. It was quite stressful at the end. I\u2019m very relieved to get over the line. I don\u2019t associate playing in Australia with pressure. I associate it with excitement. I\u2019m truly fortunate to be in this position. I want it so bad.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Zverev is zooming away from Norrie now. 3-0, 4-0, 5-0. A misguided fan is still chanting \u201clet\u2019s go Norrie, let\u2019s go\u201d. Norrie perhaps hears the call though because he does at least prevent a fourth-set bagel. But Zverev is about to serve for the match at 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, 5-1 \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.09 EST<\/p>\n De Minaur defeats Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4, 7-5<\/p>\n De Minaur has a match point at 40-30, but Tiafoe saves one of his best plays until last, sending De Minaur one way with the forehand and then putting the Australian away with a backhand winner into the other corner. De Minaur gets another chance at his advantage \u2026 and hits long! Now Tiafoe has the opportunity to break. But nothing about this game is straightforward. Until De Minaur saves the break point, sends down his eighth ace of the evening and draws the Tiafoe error on his match point! For the five straight year De Minaur is into the last 16, where he\u2019ll face Bublik or Etcheverry. They\u2019re in a first-set tie-break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.08 EST<\/p>\n Norrie\u2019s race could be run. Another double fault gives Zverev a look at an early fourth-set break and Norrie can barely rouse himself to say a meek \u201ccome on\u201d. He usually gets in the face of his opponents with all his fist pumping and vamosing and allezing, but there\u2019s no sign of that now. Zverev breaks for 2-0 and backs it up for 3-0.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tiafoe\u2019s fightback is on the ropes at 5-5, 15-40. The first break point is a 21-shot blockbuster, and Tiafoe emerges victorious. And he saves the second too. But De Minaur isn\u2019t going away and has a third BP at advantage. The Australian\u2019s backhand slice falls agonisingly long. And a fourth BP comes and goes too. But here\u2019s a fifth. De Minaur spins to return the serve \u2026 his shot has absolutely nothing on it and Tiafoe has the whole court to aim into \u2026 but blazes into the tramlines! An ugly miss. And it leaves De Minaur serving for the match at 6-3, 6-4, 6-5.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Zverev has kept hold of his third-set break and leads 5-3, after a little interruption to clean up a deposit on the baseline from some birds overhead. And he doesn\u2019t even need to serve the set out, because Norrie stumbles on serve at the worst possible time, dropping 15-40 behind, having won his previous two service games to love. And Norrie disappointingly surrenders with a double fault. Zverev leads 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 and is well on course for his seventh successive take down of the British No 2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.44 EST<\/p>\n But having worked hard to get back on level terms, Tiafoe tanks with three errors, and it\u2019s 15-40. He fends off the first BP \u2026 and just catches the baseline on the second! That was close. The pair engage in a gruelling exchange on deuce, Tiafoe then ups the ante by hitting deep to De Minaur\u2019s forehand corner \u2026 and the Australian can\u2019t get the ball back into court. Advantage Tiafoe. Game Tiafoe. He\u2019s pumping his fist repeatedly and soaking in an applause from the crowd which is surprisingly loud given he\u2019s now asking serious questions of their man. Tiafoe takes his third game on the spin and leads 5-4 on serve.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n De Minaur has perhaps let his mind wander, thinking about the victory line, because here\u2019s a loss of concentration and it\u2019s 30-40. Tiafoe jumps on the return on break point, De Minaur gets it back \u2026 but Tiafoe goes on to extract the error! They\u2019re back on serve. And that\u2019s De Minaur\u2019s first real blip. It\u2019s 4-4.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n De Minaur has Rod Laver in raptures (the arena I should stress, I don\u2019t think the great man is there tonight) as he somehow retrieves Tiafoe\u2019s smash and pulls off the winner! He\u2019s like a backboard from the baseline. Now the generous Aussie fans are hailing Tiafoe, as the American gets on the match highlights reel after running to De Minaur\u2019s drop volley and somehow threading a forehand pass down the line! Tiafoe holds from there but still trails 6-3, 6-4, 4-3.<\/p>\n De Minaur (R) hits a return to Tiafoe. Photograph: David Gray\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.44 EST<\/p>\n Norrie, after all of his fine work in the second set, throws in a loose forehand and Zverev has two break points at 15-40, 1-1 in the third. Zverev needs only one. It\u2019s Norrie 5-7, 6-4, 1-2 Zverev. Make that 1-3 as Zverev consolidates the break.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n After the interruption on Rod Laver, they\u2019re back under way. 2-0 soon enough becomes 4-2. De Minaur\u2019s getting closer.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Just getting going on Margaret Court: the one-of-a-kind Alexander Bublik against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who\u2019ll be hoping he can follow his Argentinian compatriot Francisco Cerundolo\u2019s lead by taking out a Russian-born enigma. Cerundolo defeated Andrey Rublev earlier.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Zverev is serving to stay in the second set, with Norrie leading 5-4. It\u2019s crunch time at 30-all. Will it be set point or game point? Break point, because Norrie nails a return which skids past the 6ft 6in Zverev\u2019s feet! Another strong return from Norrie and Zverev nets! Norrie takes the second set 6-4 having lost the first 7-5. Game on!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n De Minaur backs up the break for 2-0, and there\u2019s an interruption in the next game because of a medical situation in the stands. De Minaur will hope this doesn\u2019t disrupt his momentum.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n No mistake at the second time of asking for De Minaur, as the Australian No 1 serves out the second set for a 6-3, 6-4 lead. And then swiftly breaks at the start of the third. De Minaur said he felt like he\u2019d been \u201cslapped across the face\u201d after being destroyed by Sinner in last year\u2019s quarter-final. I wonder if Tiafoe feels the same now. It\u2019s hard to see a way back from here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Svitolina beats Shnaider 7-6, 6-3<\/p>\n Svitolina has put a W by her name, breaking for 5-3 and then serving it out. Her husband Gael Monfils is watching courtside and she\u2019s asked in her interview what he brings to her tennis. \u201cTo be more chill is something he\u2019s taught me,\u201d she says. She certainly looks relaxed and happy, which is good to see after her struggles with burnout last season, and the 12th seed will face the winner of Andreeva v Ruse in the last 16.<\/p>\n Elina Svitolina of Ukraine acknowledges the crowd following victory over Diana Shnaider. Photograph: Lintao Zhang\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.41 EST<\/p>\n A tortuous, tumultuous fifth game in the second set for Norrie. But after nearly 10 minutes and three break points, Norrie nabs the game when Zverev hits long. Norrie is celebrating as if he\u2019s won the set. He leads 3-2 on serve having lost the first set 7-5.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n De Minaur unexpectedly blinks. And Tiafoe breaks to 30. But De Minaur still has one break in his possession, though, and gets another chance to serve the set out at 5-4.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n De Minaur has a point for a a double break at 6-3, 4-2 and 30-40 on Tiafoe\u2019s serve. De Minaur looks absolutely locked in now, and his focus is unwavering during a lengthy break point, it\u2019s lung-busting stuff, he hits hard at Tiafoe\u2019s forehand \u2026 and the American nets! The Australian will serve for a two sets to love lead at 6-3, 5-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n An ace down the T brings up three set points for Zverev. And the German serves it out to love when Norrie\u2019s return goes long. Zverev upped his serving game as that set went on, having fallen 2-0 behind at the start. Norrie won\u2019t panic yet, but if Zverev stays in his groove it\u2019s going to be very hard for the British No 2 because the world No 3\u2019s serve is one of the best shots in the business. Zverev leads 7-5.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.30 EST<\/p>\n A break for De Minaur too, as he runs and runs and runs and runs. And runs. I\u2019m not sure there\u2019s a quicker \u2013 or more willing \u2013 mover in tennis. He\u2019s in control at 6-3, 3-2.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Norrie is in the danger zone, serving at 5-5, with Zverev at advantage. It\u2019s an absorbing point \u2026 it\u2019s going and going and going and going \u2026 until Norrie comes forward, makes his first volley, but nets his second! Zverev has the break and will serve for the set at 6-5.<\/p>\n Britain’s Cameron Norrie hits a return to Germany’s Alexander Zverev. Photograph: Martin Keep\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.35 EST<\/p>\n Cerundolo knocks out Rublev 6-3, 7-6, 6-3<\/p>\n Rublev has departed, with Argentina\u2019s clay-court specialist Cerundolo breaking new ground by reaching the fourth round at a hard-court grand slam. He\u2019ll play the winner of Norrie v Zverev. \u201cI\u2019m feeling incredible,\u201d Cerundolo says, with a smile almost as bright as his orange shirt. The Argentinian fans on the Kia Arena are LOUD.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.09 EST<\/p>\n Svitolina has secured the first set too, 7-4 in a tie-break. The Ukrainian ended her 2025 season in September because of burnout and is now reaping the rewards of that decision, having compiled a 7-0 start to the new year, including taking the title in Auckland.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tiafoe, having missed the chance to break at 3-3, is facing a break point of his own at 3-4, 30-40 after De Minaur scraps and slides and with a flick of the wrists pulls off a superb winner. And some more trademark battling from the Demon gets him the first break. He serves the set out to 30, and the Rod Laver Arena are cheering their man. As is his fiance Katie Boulter, who\u2019s watching in the stands after her first-round exit. De Minaur takes the first set 6-3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Rublev is receiving some treatment; I\u2019m not sure what the problem is. He\u2019s still two sets down, 6-3, 7-6, 3-2 on serve. And nearly whacks his racket into the ground when he falls 0-30 down on serve, before thinking better of it. Perhaps he is a new man. The previously self-combustible Russian says he\u2019s gained a fresh outlook since linking up with Marat Safin, the 2005 Australian Open<\/a> champion, and that his coach has brought \u201cchill\u201d to his team. He\u2019s going to have to mount a big comeback though if his new stability is to lead to a deep run here, because he\u2019s broken from deuce and is two games from defeat.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tiafoe\u2019s results can be up and down, and he\u2019s been higher in the rankings (10) than he is now (34), but he loves the big stage and he could find a way to come into his own against the home favourite. He\u2019s definitely dangerous on the right day. Though he does tend to save his best performances for the US Open.<\/p>\n Frances Tiafoe of the USA in action. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.59 EST<\/p>\n A first break point for Tiafoe, at 30-40, 3-3. Tiafoe tamely hoiks a forehand long. That was a bad miss. It was a simple rally ball. The American puts that out of his mind to secure a second break point \u2026 and again his forehand fails! Deuce No 2. And De Minaur takes care of the next two points to escape with a hold for 4-3.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s been some start from Norrie, who whizzes to 0-40 in Zverev\u2019s first service game. A long rally plays out \u2026 and Norrie settles it by whipping a forehand winner down the line! He\u2019s come out swinging and leads 2-0. But then promptly drops 0-40 down on his own serve. He regroups for deuce, but Zverev breaks from there. Norrie\u2019s blistering start has stalled. They\u2019re back on serve, with Norrie leading 2-1. <\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile Rublev, in the other singles match currently being played, has dropped two sets down, 6-3, 7-6, against Cerundolo. Rublev is a three-time quarter-finalist at the Australian Open<\/a>, having reached 10 grand slam quarter-finals in total without advancing any further. Which is something De Minaur can empathise with, having a 6-0 record at that stage in slams. Perhaps it should be renamed the round of Rublev and De Minaur. But anyway, De Minaur is 3-2 ahead on serve in the opening set vs Tiafoe.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Norrie gets his side of the scoreboard moving by holding to 15 in the opening game. De Minaur and Tiafoe are also going with serve, at 2-2, while Svitolina has broken to love for 3-2.<\/p>\n Britain’s Cameron Norrie serves. Photograph: Hollie Adams\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.36 EST<\/p>\n Norrie and Zverev are going through the pre-match formalities. The umpire tells the players to smile big for the cameras. Not sure how easy that is for Norrie, given the British No 2, the last Brit standing in the singles, has lost to Zverev in all six of their previous meetings. The last time they played at the Australian Open<\/a> was in 2024, when Norrie was denied 7-6 in the fifth set. But Norrie will at least take something from the fact he was able to push Zverev all the way then, and the fact that this is a night match, with slightly slower conditions, may help Norrie, because the rallies will be longer and more attritional and that\u2019s what he loves.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Up next: we\u2019ve got De Minaur v Tiafoe on Rod Laver and Norrie v Zverev on John Cain and Svitolina v Shnaider on Margaret Court.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tumaini has more on Mboko\u2019s victory \u2013 and Sabalenka\u2019s. Because they\u2019ll play each other in the last 16:<\/p>\n Victoria Mboko has given herself a shot at Aryna Sabalenka<\/a>, the world No 1, in the fourth round of the Australian Open, after the 19-year-old prodigy held her nerve at the end of an incredibly tense tussle to close out a 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3 win over the 14th seed Clara Tauson.<\/p>\n Mboko, seeded 17th in Melbourne, showed her mental toughness at the end of a quality match between two young players by playing an authoritative final set after squandering match points. Mboko had served for the match at 7-6 (5), 5-3 before losing her service game to love. She then generated three match points at 5-4 but while Mboko was extremely tight, Tauson struck the ball with total freedom to retrieve the break.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was just self-belief at the end,\u201d Mboko said. \u201cI had so many chances in the second set but I\u2019ve got to give credit where it\u2019s due, she was playing incredible tennis so I just had to lock in, in the important moments. This is my first time here so I\u2019m really happy to go through to the fourth round.\u201d<\/p>\n The victory marks the first grand slam fourth round of her career, her previous best being a third-round run at the French Open last year from qualifying. The Canadian\u2019s reward is a meeting with the two-time champion Sabalenka, who dragged herself into the fourth round in two tie-break sets, defeating Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7).<\/p>\n Although Sabalenka was frustrated with her level of play, her fighting spirit carried her through. She saved two set points in the second set tiebreak, with Potapova double faulting on the first set point.<\/p>\n \u201cAryna five years ago would probably be focusing too much on the way she feels and completely lose these games,\u201d Sabalenka said. \u201cNowadays with the experience, I learned a lot that it doesn\u2019t really matter how you feel, it\u2019s all about your mentality, your mental strength to be there, to just try your best, to put the ball ugly, with the terrible technique, with completely body being disconnected, but just try to put it back and fight.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause you never know. You have to stay there and you have to fight and you have to show your opponent that no matter how I feel, no matter what\u2019s going on, I\u2019ll still be there, I\u2019ll still be fighting, and I\u2019ll still be willing to find something that\u2019s going to help me to be willing to fight in the match.\u201d<\/p>\n You can read the rest here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The 18-year-old\u2019s win follows the 19-year-old Mboko\u2019s earlier, and we\u2019ve still got the 18-year-old Andreeva to come in the night session. With five teens in total playing in the women\u2019s third round, it\u2019s the most at a major since the 2009 US Open. Despite the increased emphasis on strength and size at the top of the game in recent years, the prodigies are thriving, and it\u2019s great for tennis.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.41 EST<\/p>\n Jovic, seeded 29, will face the unseeded Yulia Putintseva in the last 16, so she\u2019ll go into her first fourth-round match at a slam in the strange position of being the favourite. Not that I think that\u2019ll faze her. As for Paolini, it\u2019s another grand slam disappointment, who hasn\u2019t been able to push on since her runs to the 2024 French Open and Wimbledon finals.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.20 EST<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels amazing,\u201d Jovic says. \u201cI\u2019ve been wanting this one for a while now. I just tried to focus [in the tie-break] on what I was doing earlier in the match, when I served for the match I was a bit passive, so I told myself to go out swinging in the tie-break.\u201d She then thanks her family who\u2019ve flown in from LA. She reminds me of how her fellow American Coco Gauff was when she broke through on tour, in how she speaks with a maturity beyond her years. She looks like the real deal.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Jovic beats Paolini 6-2, 7-6<\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t heard that much about Jovic before, she\u2019s some talent. The 18-year-old has been described by Andy Roddick as having \u201cpower you can\u2019t teach\u201d, but what also sets her apart from almost all of her peers is her focus, dedication and maturity. A year ago she was ranked at No 191, but now is seeded for the first time at a slam, having already won WTA titles on three surfaces, and she\u2019s again closing in on the biggest victory of her career as she edges 5-3 ahead. And a fizzing forehand gives her three match points at 6-3! Paolini prods wide and Jovic has well and truly arrived! It\u2019s her first win over a top-10 player and she\u2019s also broken new ground by advancing to the fourth round of a grand slam. What a result to get us started.<\/p>\n USA’s Iva Jovic celebrates after winning against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. Photograph: Martin Keep\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.08 EST<\/p>\n Let\u2019s get straight to the John Cain Arena, because Jovic, having served for the match twice, has been taken to a tie-break by Paolini. The first four points of the breaker go against serve, and there are plenty of oooohs and aaaaaahs as Paolini turns defence into attack in an absorbing point to charge forward to the short ball. Paolini shows superb defence on the next point too, but Jovic is eventually able to pierce it. They change ends at 3-3 \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n G\u2019day and welcome to our coverage of day six, where the stories so far are aplenty. Both the world No 1s have won: Aryna Sabalenka in two tight, tense, tie-break sets against her friend Anastasia Potapova, while Carlos Alcaraz advanced more comfortably, 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 against the Frenchman Corentin Moutet.<\/p>\n Two of the most precocious teenagers in tennis have also taken the headlines, with victorious Victoria Mboko, the 19-year-old Canadian, defeating the 14th seed Clara Tauson, and Iva Jovic, the 18-year-old Californian, on the verge of taking out Jasmine Paolini, leading 6-2, 6-5. More on that to follow \u2026<\/p>\n Daniil Medvedev v2.0 came from two sets down to defeat Hungary\u2019s Fabian Marozsan, Coco Gauff also went the distance before beating fellow American Hailey Baptiste, there have been wins for Gauff\u2019s compatriots Tommy Paul and Learner Thien, plus the wonderful Czech Karolina Muchova.<\/p>\n And there\u2019s so much more to get stuck into in the night session too, with the last Australian man in the singles Alex de Minaur<\/a> facing the American showman Frances Tiafoe in a potential blockbuster and the last surviving Brit Cameron Norrie taking on the 2025 runner-up Alexander Zverev. We also get to enjoy the perennially popular Elena Svitolina, the enigmas that are Andrey Rublev and Alexander Bublik (Rublev is currently 6-4 down against Francisco Cerundolo) and arguably the most talented teen of all, Mirra Andreeva. What with Mboko and Jovic too, perhaps another prodigy era in women\u2019s tennis is dawning.<\/p>\n It may still be dark outside my window in London, but Melbourne Park is shining, so let\u2019s bask in that glow whatever your worldly whereabouts may be.<\/p>\n