Day 8: Novak locks in Carlos blockbuster, Aryna smashes Mirra to join Coco in QF

Novak Djokovic has rolled in to his 50th major semifinal with a spectacular come-from-behind victory over Carlos Alcaraz to extend his quest for a historic 11th Australian Open title. Paula Badosa has prevented a 2024 SF rematch between Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff by dispatching the world No.3 in straight sets to progress to the last four, while Alex Zverev is into his third semifinal in six years after outgunning Tommy Paul earlier on Day 10 — experts Simon Rea and Abigail Johnson join Jon and Blair to analyse the results, and preview Day 11 action: Emma Navarro v Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner v Alex de Minaur. Plus, as the AO Legends Cup gets underway, we find out who some of the stars of yesteryear are predicting to win the women’s and men’s singles titles. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex de Minaur has reached the last eight of his home Slam for the first time with a straight-sets defeat of Alex Michelsen, whose career-best major run came to an end on the same day as compatriot Learner Tien's. The teenager’s vanquisher Lorenzo Sonego has advanced to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal where he’ll play Ben Shelton, the beneficiary of Gael Monfils’ retirement. Madison Keys has upset 2023 finalist Elena Rybakina to return to the last eight where she’ll face Elina Svitolina, while an out-of-sorts Jannik Sinner has prevailed in a tough four-setter against Holger Rune — experts John Fitzgerald and Levi Huddleston join Jon and Blair Henley to analyse the results, and preview Day 10 action: Aryna Sabalenka v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and the Novak Djokovic v Carlos Alcaraz blockbuster. Plus, Matt and Viv sit down with Coco Gauff’s father Corey who reveals the origin story of the 20-year-old superstar. (Full Episode: The Sit-Down with Corey Gauff) AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Novak Djokovic’s quest for an 11th Australian Open title is about to face its biggest hurdle yet—Carlos Alcaraz—after the 24-time major champion dismantled Jiri Lehecka on Night 8 of competition. Alex Zverev has dropped his first set of the tournament against Ugo Humbert but is through to a quarterfinal against Tommy Paul who enjoyed a Sunday stroll against an injured Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is quietly continuing her campaign with Donna Vekic the latest seed sent scattering. Coco Gauff has fended off a Belinda Bencic challenge to progress to a QF clash with Spanish 11th seed Paula Badosa, while Spanish men’s No.1 Alcaraz only had to play two sets against Jack Draper before the Brit retired— experts Ryan Harrison and Levi Huddleston join Jon and Blair to analyse the results, and preview Day 9 action: Elena Rybakina v Madison Keys, and Jannik Sinner v Holger Rune. Plus, the brightest Australian Open star you’ve never heard of… AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Power couple Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina have pulled off big upsets to reach the second week of a Grand Slam together for the first time since 2019: Monfils eliminating Taylor Fritz and Svitolina outgunning Jasmine Paolini. Holger Rune has prevailed in a five-set battle with Miomir Kecmanovic, setting up a R16 clash with Jannik Sinner, while Madison Keys will take on Elena Rybakina after ousting Danielle Collins. American young guns Alex Michelsen and Learner Tien are turning heads after extending their career-best results — Tien becoming the youngest man since Rafael Nadal in 2005 to reach the Round of 16 in Melbourne. Alex de Minaur has fended off Francisco Cerundolo to win through to the second week of his home Slam for the fourth straight year, while Iga Swiatek has removed Emma Raducanu with surgical precision — experts Candy Reid and Simon Rea analyse the results and preview Day 8 action: Jack Draper v Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff v Belinda Bencic. Plus, shopping enthusiast Donna Vekic takes a trip downtown on her day off. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Novak Djokovic is one win away from a potential Olympic final rematch with Carlos Alcaraz after beating Tomas Machac on Night 6, but not without signs of fatigue. Marathon man Jack Draper has edged out Aleks Vukic in another five-set thriller, leaving Alex de Minaur as the sole Australian left in singles. Arthur Fils' campaign has ended in injury, as has Naomi Osaka's, sending fellow mother Belinda Bencic into the fourth round — her next opponent is Coco Gauff who's a step closer to a SF rematch with Aryna Sabalenka after the world No.1 booked in a R16 date with Mirra Andreeva. Jessica Pegula is out in straight sets at the hands of Olga Danilovic, while Donna Vekic has downed Diana Shnaider in a three-hour epic — experts Simon Rea and Lou Pleming analyse the win and preview Day 7 action: Elina Svitolina v Jasmine Paolini and Ben Shelton v Lorenzo Musetti. Commentator Mark Petchey reacts to Learner Tien’s incredible unravelling of Daniil Medvedev. Plus, we get on board with the AO buggy drivers thanks to SafetyCulture. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Both 2024 runners-up are out in the second round after Daniil Medvedev was stunned by American teenager Learner Tien in a Grand Slam marathon for the ages. Danielle Collins has emerged victorious from a tense battle with Destanee Aiava and the Kia Arena crowd, while Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini both progressed into the Round of 32 on another great day for the Italians, despite the loss of Matteo Berrettini to Holger Rune. Emma Raducanu has eliminated Amanda Anisimova to set up a third-round clash with world No.2 Iga Swiatek, while men's 18th seed Hubi Hurkacz has met his demise in a Miomir Kecmanovic masterclass — experts Jill Craybas and Levi Huddleston join Jon Hoevenaars and Blair Henley to analyse the results, and preview Day 6 action: Paula Badosa v Marta Kostyuk and Novak Djokovic v Tomas Machac. Plus, Ursin Caderas meets Joao Fonseca and his chaperone brother Leo. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Czech teen Jakub Mensik has matched Joao Fonseca’s seed-slaying feat dispatching Casper Ruud — the first two teenagers to beat top-10 players at the same Grand Slam since Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray in 2006. A bitter-sweet night for the Aussies with Thanasi Kokkinakis losing a heartbreaker to Jack Draper, and Aleks Vukic upstaging Sebi Korda to reach his first major third round, while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina overcame Felix Auger-Aliassime. Title contenders Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff are in cruise control, but 2024 finalist Zheng Qinwen has been knocked out by Laura Siegemund — experts Simon Rea and Candy Reid analyse Zheng’s demise, and preview Day 5 action: Iga Swiatek v Rebecca Sramkova, and Matteo Berrettini v Holger Rune. Plus, Hollywood director Leigh Whannell drops by Pod Laver Arena to discuss the art of the horror movie. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ATP Next Gen champion Joao Fonseca has produced one of the great Grand Slam upsets knocking out three-time quarterfinalist Andrey Rublev in a stunning major main draw debut. Alex de Minaur has flown the flag for Australia defeating Botic van de Zandschulp, while all of his compatriots — including Alexei Popyrin and Olivia Gadecki — bowed out on a tough day for the local contingent. Gael Monfils has held on against fellow Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to prevail, while Emma Navarro came from behind to beat fellow NCAA champion Peyton Stearns in a marathon three-setter — Mike Cation and Levi Huddleston analyse the results and preview Day 4 action: Jack Draper v Thanasi Kokkinakis and Karolina Muchova v Naomi Osaka. Plus, Mirra Andreeva and Conchita Martinez share their thoughts on the new on-court coaches ‘pods’. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Kyrgios' Australian Open comeback has come to a halt at the hands of Jacob Fearnley, while Chris O’Connell has gone agonisingly close to beating Tommy Paul. It was an otherwise promising day for the home contingent with nine Australians progressing to the second round. Novak Djokovic has passed an early test against Nishesh Basavareddy to begin his tilt at an 11th Australian Open title. World No.1 Jannik Sinner has withstood a challenge from Nicolas Jarry to progress, as did women's fancy Coco Gauff, but seeds Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jelena Ostapenko have fallen at the first hurdle — Chanda Rubin and Simon Rea analyse what went wrong for the two biggest seeds to fall so far, and preview the Day 3 clash between Alex de Minaur and Botic Van de Zandschulp Plus, Ursin Caderas gets to know a different side of the men’s defending champion. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aryna Sabalenka has returned to the scene of her two previous AO titles with a statement win over Sloane Stephens, while Alex Zverev has blasted Lucas Pouille off the court on an electric first night of Australian Open 2025. No such luck for the Aussies, with Daria Saville, Adam Walton, Li Tu and Omar Jasika failing to progress beyond the first round. Casper Ruud has dodged a bullet from Jaume Munar who pushed the No.6 seed to five sets, while Kei Nishikori survived two match points against Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro to advance – experts Mark Hlawaty and Simon Rea join the show to analyse how both players managed to turn around their fortunes. Teenage sensation Mirra Andreeva was the first player through to the second round among other Day 1 winners including Zheng Qinwen, Paula Badosa, Donna Vekic, Ugo Umbert, Arthur Fils and Tomas Machac. Plus, we preview Jannik Sinner’s clash with Nicolas Jarry on Day 2 as well as Naomi Osaka and Caroline Garcia’s 2024 rematch. And producer Ursin Caderas takes a ride in the KIA player car with Aryna Sabalenka. AusOpen.comiHeartApple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.