Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka meets US Open champion Coco Gauff for a place in the final of the Australian Open. They’re the only major winners left in the women’s draw and the last two of the 32 seeds.
Gauff leads Sabalenka 4-2 in their career head-to-heads, including in the final in New York last September. Sabalenka won her breakthrough major title here last year and reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon and the US Open final. She is on a 12-match winning streak at Melbourne Park. Gauff is on a 12-match winning streak at majors.
No 12 seed Zheng Qinwen will play Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska in the other semi-final. Neither Zheng nor Yastremska has been past the quarter-finals at a major before.
On Wednesday, Daniil Medvedev scrapped his way into a third Australian Open semi-final with a five-set victory over Hubert Hurkacz.
Ninth seed Hurkacz, who was looking to make the last four at a grand slam tournament for only the second time, twice fought back from a set down but Medvedev came out on top 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 after 3hr 59min.
The Russian will now face sixth seed Alexander Zverev, who booked his spot in the last four with a 6-1,6-3,6-7 (2), 6-4 win over Carlos Alcaraz.
What is Today’s order of play?
(All times GMT)
Rod Laver Arena
From 12am: Tomas Machac (Cze) & Zhizhen Zhang (Chn) v (2) Rohan Bopanna (Ind) & Matthew Ebden (Aus), Simone Bolelli (Ita) & Andrea Vavassori (Ita) v Yannick Hanfmann (Ger) & Dominik Koepfer (Ger), (4) Cori Gauff (US) v (2) Aryna Sabalenka (Blr), Dayana Yastremska (Ukr) v (12) Qinwen Zheng (Chn)
Margaret Court Arena
From 2am: (3) Storm Hunter (Aus) & Katerina Siniakova (Cze) v (2) Su-Wei Hsieh (Tpe) & Elise Mertens (Bel)
When do the Australian Open finals take place?
The women’s final is on Saturday, January 27 at 8.30am UK time. The men’s final is on the following day: January 28, at 8.30am UK time.
How to watch the Australian Open on TV in the UK
In the UK, Eurosport has the broadcasting rights to live action from Melbourne and will be showing 260 hours of tennis. To watch on Discovery+, an Entertainment & Sport pass is £6.99/month or £59.99/year.
This year, Nick Kyrgios is part of Eurosport’s English-language commentary team, and is one of the highlights of a camera stream direct from the commentary booth. Kyrgios has been joined in Australia by presenters John McEnroe, Barbara Schett and Laura Robson, and from a London studio by new host Rachel Stringer.
How to watch the Australian Open on TV in the US
ESPN has the broadcasting rights to show the tournament.
Who are the defending champions?
Last year, Novak Djokovic claimed the men’s singles title for a record-extending 10th time after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Aryna Sabalenka claimed her first grand slam singles title in the women’s draw when she defeated Elena Rybakina in three sets.
Latest odds
To win the men’s title
- Novak Djokovic 4/5
- Jannik Sinner 10/3
- Daniil Medvedev 5/1
- Alexander Zverev 8/1
To win the women’s title
- Aryna Sabalenka 3/4
- Qinwen Zheng 5/1
- Dayana Yastremska 14/1
Which British players are involved?
In the men’s draw, Andy Murray and Dan Evans lost in the opening round while Jack Draper was knocked out the second round. Cameron Norrie was the last man standing, before losing to Alexander Zverev in a fifth-set tie-break in the fourth round.
Among the women, Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter made it through to round two but failed to reach the third round. Jodie Burrage was knocked out in the first round.
When did the Australian Open start?
The tournament got under way on Sunday, January 14. It was the first Sunday start in the tournament’s history.
What is the Australian Open prize money?
This year’s Australian Open total prize money is a record 13 per cent increase on 2023 – £46.3 million will be shared by the field with the winners each taking home £1.68 million.
“We’ve upped prize money for every round at the Australian Open with the major increases in qualifying and the early rounds of singles and doubles,” Tiley said. “We want to ensure Australia remains the launchpad for the global tennis season and the players and their teams have everything they need to help them perform at their best and continue to enjoy the happy slam.”