Australian Open 2024 as it happened: Sinner seals semi-final spot in straight sets; Sabalenka dominates her way into semi-finals

Here is a look at today’s key matches.

Alright, tennis fans, I reckon I’m out of here.

Thanks so much for sticking around with us, it was a good one. And all that 4am complaining for nothing! Done and dusted by 1:30am.

And we’ve got two semi-finals locked it: Gauff v Sabalenka and Djokovic v Sinner. Exciting!

Goodnight, sleep well, and we’ll see you all tomorrow. Technically, later today.
Buona notte!

Well, that didn’t take as long as everyone predicted. All done and dusted by 1:30am.

Jannick Sinner knew the task and got it done. And he’s still yet to drop a single set all tournament, despite going close tonight to his opponent, the world No.5 Andrey Rublev.

Sinner won 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

Next on the cards? Only the world No.1 Novak Djokovic.

“The only thing I can give is 100 percent,” he said of that match ahead. “I will fight for every ball”.

Well, after a lot was made of a potential 4am finish tonight (including, yes, by me), Jannick Sinner appears to have heard our cries as he looks to wrap this match up in straight sets.

No 4am, five-setters today. Well, so it seems at this stage.

The Italian 22-year-old is up 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 4-2. And we’ve just clocked over 1am.

This set felt like it was always heading here, to a tie-break.

Jannik Sinner is still yet to lose a set this tournament, despite going close for a second there to Andrey Rublev.

I mean, it still hangs in the balance. Could go either way!

It may have clocked over midnight and started to creep into the wee hours of the morning, but the crowd’s energy has barely dipped.

There are a lot of phrases being yelled in both Italian and Russian, while the ever-favourite “Let’s go, [insert player’s name]” is getting a fair go, too.

After a long battle for the last game of the second set, Andrey Rublev now leads Jannik Sinner five games to four in the second.

Of course, Sinner claimed the first set 6-4.

This one thanks to the Australian Open X account.

Jannik Sinner has won 58 of his 60 service games this tournament (he also hasn’t dropped a set, yet).

Any guesses who has broken his serve? That’s before tonight, of course.

After Jannik Sinner claimed the opening set 6-4, his fiery opponent Andrey Rublev is fighting to equal back the ledger and take the second.

The pair are absolutely going for it, smacking the ball at lightening speed across the court.

The TV really doesn’t do it justice how hard these balls are being flung back and forth.

As we speak (type), the second set is very much in the balance.

Rublev is up two games to one.