Djokovic and Williams: How they won

1. Top seed Novak Djokovic beats Gilles Muller 6-4 7-5 7-5
2. Serb reaches quarter-finals without dropping a set
3. Venus Williams through to first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2010
4. She beat sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3 2-6 6-1
5. Serena, Wawrinka, Raonic & Nishikori also through
6. Get involved using #bbctennis

Djokovic and Muller are in the locker room and the spectators have disappeared. I suppose we could keep live texting throughout the afternoon, just for a laugh, but it wouldn't be particularly funny.

If you missed any of the news and chit-chat from today's play, you can read our well-crafted round-up. There's also plenty on Murray versus Kyrgios, should you want to do some revision on the big match. Bye for now, but join us tomorrow for live text coverage of Murray's quarter-final with Kyrgios.

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Here's some head-to-head chat to keep you occupied for about 20 seconds: Sixth seed Murray has met home favourite Kyrgios once on tour, with the Briton winning in straight sets in Toronto last summer.

The pair also locked horns at the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) exhibition in India two months ago, which Murray won.

As BBC Sport's Piers Newbery says in his preview, 19-year-old Kyrgios is the first Australian man for 10 years to reach the last eight of the Aussie Open and hopes to become the first for 39 years to win the title.

Will the pro-Kyrgios crowd ruffle Murray's feathers? "Obviously the crowd will be right behind him, understandably so," says Murray.

"They're going to watch him play a lot of matches like this over the next 10, 15 years probably, and that's just something that I'll have to deal with in my way."

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Dreamy quarter-final line-ups in store for us this week, with the pick of the bunch perhaps Andy Murray's clash with Nick Kyrgios. The pair will meet in the night session match on Rod Laver Arena at 08:15 GMT on Tuesday.

When was the last time Djokovic lost a Grand Slam quarter-final? It was at the French Open in 2009 when, as fourth seed, he lost to Philipp Kohlschreiver in the third round.

Djokovic is through to his 23rd consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final and he will next face Canada's Milos Raonic.

"He's one of the three, four guys of the future generation," says Djokovic of his next opponent. "If you serve as well as he does it gives you a lot of advantage over your opponents so I guess I'm going to have to return well."

"I want to wish happy Australia Day to everybody," says Djokovic, who now has the crowd in the palm of his hands. "He deserves a lot of respect and I was fortunate to serve very well in important moments in the third set and not allow him to capitalise in important moments.

"It's never easy playing against somebody who takes away the time from you. He comes to the net, he slices. He's a great player overall. He was a quality in his serve. I did feel uncomfortable at times, I was slipping a lot."

Game, set and match

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Djokovic finding his grove, collects three match points, and there's no comeback for Muller from here. The 31-year-old with a tired-looking shot into the net and Djokovic celebrates by closing his eyes and raising his arms in the air.

Djokovic swinging with confidence on the return, drilling a forehand beyond Muller for a 0-30 lead. At 15-30, Djokovic pounces on a feeble Muller backhand volley and Djokovic's reply - a crackerjack of a volley - earns the four-time champion two break points.

Meltdown alert. Djokovic with an angry monologue as his backhand down the line drifts wide. Muller unruffled and, once more, sees off the danger - a series of overheads eventually getting the better of Djokovic. Deuce.

The Serb absorbing the Muller shots until he unleashes a stonking forehand winner. Break point numero three. Dreamy from Djokovic, securing the break with a muscly crosscourt forehand and the Serb is nearly home and hosed.

Muller reins his opponent in from 30-0 to 30-30, but Djokovic produces a well-timed ace to sneak ahead, and there's no drama to write about. Yet.

From 0-30 to 30-30... Muller getting sucked into a baseline slug-fest... Djokovic pulling his opponent from tramline to tramline and Muller folds like a deckchair in the wind. Break point Djokovic. On the next point, it's the rubber-legged Djokovic, grunting and groaning with every strike, who is forced on the backfoot and Muller comes out on top with a well-worked forehand into the corner. Momentum now with Muller, and a volley brings an end to an intriguing game.

Immense power from Djokovic on the overhead as he starts the game with confidence, but there's been a dip in the Serb's form in the last few games. He coughs up a double fault to give Muller a 15-30 lead, though a thunderclap of an ace brings a stop to any thoughts of David overcoming Goliath. At ease. It was a minor blip, another ace, another hold.

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Will wasting four break points in the previous game play on Muller's mind? Nah, no, never. It's the underdog who is currently playing the better tennis and he holds to 30 with little fuss.

At 15-30 Djokovic could be in trouble. The Serb slips slightly on the baseline, which is the cue Muller needs to laser a forehand down the line. Two break points but it all goes awry for Muller as Djokovic forces the game to deuce. A third break point comes his way, though. A shake of the head from Djokovic before the Serb hits a forehand freely and without fear, which kisses the baseline. Oof that was close. Deuce.

Fourth break point. Djokovic's mind has gone for a walk. The pair trade blows from the baseline... Muller's attempts the drop shot but fails to negotiate the barrier. A tap of the temple from Muller. Both players will need to see a shrink at the changeover. Djokovic with the speed of a panther as he scoots from the baseline to the net... he stoops to his shoelaces... cat-like reflexes near the tape to produce an irretrievable volley. Djokovic lives on!

Djokovic happy to fetch and retrieve all day long. At 40-0 Muller seems untroubled, but Djokovic nicks two points - the last a stunning backhand volley from a zany angle. Applause from coach Boris Becker. But Muller is not a man who can be easily bullied and responds with a peach of an ace.

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Pressure increasing on Muller with Djokovic quickly rattling through his service games, holding to love once more.

How can Muller battle back from two sets down against the world's best player, a man who has 48 titles and is playing on his favourite court? He probably can't, but he is refusing to surrender meekly.

Muller gifts Djokovic a break point with an iffy volley, but keeps faith with that shot on the next point and it's a backhand volley which gets him out of trouble, putting Djokovic on the defensive and forcing the Serb to net. Danger averted and Djokovic playing catch-up again.

A doff of the hat in Djokovic's direction as he is serving well, with 70% of his first serves hitting the target. The Serb ends a convincing hold with an ace, turning the attention, and the pressure, back on his opponent.

The softest of touches at the net from Muller as he places a backhand volley beyond Djokovic. The 31-year-old will have to come back from the brink if he is to beat Djokovic, but Muller displaying plenty of life at the beginning of this third set, no need for CPR just yet as he holds to love.

Game and second set

Heavy-duty hitting from Djokovic forces Muller into a cul de sac, leaving him with little option but to net on the opening point. The world number 42 then challenges the next point. It looks like an ace to the naked eye and HawkEye shows Djokovic's serve was indeed in by 0.00000mm. Fine margins. Another easy point for the Serb and he has three set point. It isn't quite a procession as Muller hammers a forehand down the line. But the game comes to a predictable conclusion and the Serb growls.

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Muller throwing his best punches, but at the other side of the net is a player who is richer than him, more successful than him and, well, better than him. At 0-30 down the world number 42 looks towards his camp, and raises his hands in despair. He does well to level at 30-30, but clumsily sends a backhand volley over the baseline to present Djokovic with a break point.

Muller won't escape from the traps again, surely? The Serb in control, pulling his opponent across the baseline, but comes unstuck with a clumsy forehand into the tramlines. But a second break point comes his way... and disappears as Muller hurls an ace down the T - his fourth of the match. Third break point - the Djokovic defence made of the toughest teak as Muller nets - and the man from Luxembourg eventually crumbles like a soufflé - drilling a backhand wide to allow Djokovic to serve for the set.

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Djokovic rattles off four points in quick succession for a hold to love, his most comfortable service game of the set.

Here we go. Cue the Jaws music. Der-dum-der-dum. Djokovic 0-30 up... A fine serve from Muller suggests there's hope against one of the sport's most lethal predators. The underdog then serves and volleys to 30-30... A netcord goes his way, Muller raises his arm in acknowledgement of his good fortune, and the 31-year-old, somehow, manages to scramble to shore when the odds were against him.

Muller has enough grit for guts to hold his own when serving but has he enough guile to break Djokovic? Evidence suggests not and it's likely he's going to have to hope for fortune to favour him in a tie-break if he is to win this set.

At 15-15, Djokovic's nostrils are flaring, his eyes are glistening. The Serb slides towards the net, trainers screeching, to present Muller with an irretrievable volley. But Muller is holding firm, advances to 40-30 before he comes unstuck with a serve towards Djokovic's backhand which the top seeds gobbles up. Deuce.

Brilliant. Sublime. Supernaturally good. A flick of the wrist and a Djokovic forehand flies by Muller, leaving the 31-year-old stranded in the middle of the court. Djokovic soaks up the crowd's applause. Break point. Two aces help Muller come through adversity, though, and he's absorbing whatever test comes his way.

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Aidan Williams: Giles Muller is putting up a good fight against Djokovic. That man is not leaving this tournament without well deserved applause.

Djokovic stepping in on the opening point, crunching a forehand volley into the corner. Errors creeping into the four-time champion's game, however, but is even the slightest drop in intensity from Djokovic enough to give Muller a chance? At 15-15, the Serb balloons a forehand into the tramlines. Danger? 15-30 - but a thumping overhead comes to Djokovic's rescue. Questions being posed, but Djokovic answering them with aplomb - another overhead, this time from the baseline, ensures he holds.

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"Argh" groans Djokovic as he strains to return Muller's boomer down the middle, but the Serb's reply drifts beyond the baseline and the world number 42 is again untroubled on his own serve. To 40-15 we go, Djokovic screwing a forehand long, and Muller is going toe-to-toe, blow-for-blow with the top seed. But for how long?

Wizardry from both players... Djokovic lobbing Muller... the underdog sprinting towards the baseline to whack it back across the net... but Djokovic is the one calling the shots and the Serb proceeds to kill off his opponent with a colossal forehand. Another hold to 40. Someone, with Djokovic the likelier, needs to start turning the screw.

The serve and volley serving Muller well. The 31-year-old holding to love, which is pretty impressive against one of the greatest returners who has ever played the game.

Muller was languishing around the mid-300s in the rankings last January after missing the previous six months with an elbow injury, and although his comeback into the Top 50 - reaching a career-high ranking next week - has the makings of a Hollywood fairytale, adding a victory over the top seed at the Australian Open seems rather far fetched. There's been no chink in the Serb's armoury and it's another easy peasy hold for the top seed.

The camera goes in search of Muller's coach Jamie Delgado who is showing so little emotion it could be a cardboard cut-out of the Briton. But the Brummie must be quietly pleased at seeing his charge 40-0 up against one of the greats. Super retrieving from Djokovic for 40-15, the Serb lunging and twirling on the baseline to return what looked like the unterturnable but that is the only moment of brilliance from the world number one who must watch his opponent skip 1-0 ahead.

Game and first set

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Djokovic needed treatment during the changeover, with the trainer applying some iodine (perhaps?!) on the Serb's bleeding fingers. A tumble in the previous game wounding the favourite but, no matter, he grabs his racquet and proceeds to make his way towards the service line. Intelligent play from the Serb as he varies play to earn three set points - an ace, a boomer of an unreturnable serve, followed by the serve and volley. It's all a little too easy for the Serb.

Perhaps because the match is lacking suspense, a flock of birds appear above the Rod Laver Arena to add some Hitchcockian tension to the evening. The intrigued crowd look up, gasp a little before returning their attention on the match, where Muller is untroubled on his serve. A hold to 15 for the man from Luxembourg, forcing Djokovic to serve for the set.

What a year 2005 was for Gilles Muller. Having blown off the cobwebs on my copy of the bestselling Gilles Muller: The Complete History, I can tell you that the highest-ranked players the 31-year-old has beaten are Rafael Nadal, then world number three, at Wimbledon in 2005 and then world number three Andy Roddick at the US Open in the same year.

Those victories were nearly a decade ago, however, and the left-hander has not won against a Top 10 player at a Grand Slam since 2008. He's up against it here, Djokovic oozing confidence, stepping in from the baseline and overpowering his opponent for a hold to 30.

Djokovic breaks

Ole! The crowd whistle in approval, Boris Becker applauds, as Djokovic, the master retriever, digs into his box of tricks. The four-time champion races across the baseline to fetch a Muller forehand and a canny lob is his riposte. Masterful, magical, mercurial. Djokovic with three break points at 0-40, wastes one but grabs his chance with Muller faltering on the baseline.

A puff of the cheeks from Muller as his backhand clips the tape and falls back on his side of the court. The crowd's oohs an indication of how close that was to creeping over to the Serb's side. Djokovic, though, proceeds to up the ante, sprinting towards the tape to whack an overhead beyond his opponent and he concludes a straightforward hold with a cool ace. As you were.

Djokovic, his t-shirt matching the cobalt blue court, fails to assert his authority in this game, with Muller racing to a 40-0 advantage. The top seed screws a forehand into the tramlines and that's the end of that. Muller ahead once more and the crowd left to second-guess when Djokovic will strike.

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Want a sure-fire, dead-certain safe bet when it comes to quarter-finals? Novak Djokovic is your man because the consistent Serb is bidding to reach the last eight of a Grand Slam for the 23rd consecutive time. For those of you wanting more information, he's third in the all-time list behind Roger Federer (36) and Jimmy Connors (27).

Impressive so far from Djokovic - feather-light touch for a peach of a drop shot takes him to 30-0. Muller nicks one point, but on the next his feet sink into concrete on the baseline and he swings wildly at a forehand. Djokovic in regal form.

Here's a stat for you: Djokovic has dropped 27 games in his first three rounds, while Muller has lost 50. You can do what you want with that bit of information. On the court, Muller is attempting to keep the rallies short, coming into the net frequently and the ploy helps him clean up and secure a comfortable hold.

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Oof! An exquisite a backhand winner down the line eases Djokovic to 30-0 and he's quickly 40-0 up thanks to a razor-sharp ace. A minor blip allows Muller to steal a point, but another ace seals the deal and Djokovic seems in a ruthless mood.

A confident opening by the 31-year-old, picking up the opening two points with a couple of thunderbolt serves. At 30-0 down, the Djokovic return begins to hum, the Serb pinging a dreamy forehand winner down the line to halve the deficit.

Sloppy from Muller, slapping a forehand into the tape and the underdog could be in trouble. Ah, but bravo! An ace to the wings. 40-30. Muller with his nose in front once again and he comes through his first test with a crisp forehand winner.

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Even those with fame and fortune dream of being a rock star and based on this picture Novak Djokovic could put on a bit of a show were he to decide to play at Wembley. The Serb pretended to play guitar with a hologram of country singer Keith Urban at the Melbourne Park. It's one way to spend your free time, I guess.

The warm-up is nearly over which means the match is about to start. Strap yourselves in.

The dark horse rises?

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Is the man for Luxembourg a dark horse, a player we (not Djokovic, of course) should take more seriously? The world number 42 has sent two seeds packing already at Melbourne, beating Roberto Baustista Agut and John Isner. Could Djokovic be the 31-year-old's next scalp? No sniggering and guffawing, please.

Hello! Aimee here, wishing you a Happy Australia Day and bringing you live text coverage of Novak Djokovic's test against Gilles Muller. Once the Australia Day pyrotechnics are over we will have some tennis to talk about. Until then, why not gaze at a picture of some fireworks.

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That's all from me, folks. As ever, thanks for your company. I'll leave you in the very capable hands of Aimee Lewis, who will take you through top seed Novak Djokovic's fourth round tie against Gilles Muller. Until next time, it's good morning from me.

The last time Serena and Venus met, it was Venus who came out on top in three sets in Montreal. Should they both make it to the semi-finals, it will be their 25th meeting, with Serena leading the head-to-head 14-11.

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Asked what her inspiration was for that victory, Venus Williams says: "Definitely my sister Serena. She's the ultimate champion, and my fans who have stuck by me through thick and thin. The first set wasn't easy, it was 6-3 but it was about an hour and in the second set she started even better. In the third set I went in a trance and just wanted to win."

Williams raises her arms aloft, jumping her way to the net and shooting a smile to her box. It's a huge win for the 34-year-old, who will now play fellow American Madison Keys in the next round. If she comes through that, she could face sister Serena in the semi-finals.

Game, set and match

There are no hints of nerves as Williams edges to match point and then seals the match with a booming ace down the middle. The American reaches the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. It's her first last eight appearance in a Grand Slam since 2010. The 18th seed beats the sixth seed, nine years her junior.

Williams breaks

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Martina Navratilova has had little to applaud in the last 20 minutes as she's seen her charge Radwanska suffer under a barrage of big hitting from Williams.

The American looks to have a new lease of life in this set, chasing balls down at will and reading the Radwanska serve really well.

Three break points for Williams but she only needs the one as Radwanska hits wide. Williams to serve for the match.

Williams mixes it up and throws in a forehand slice that just oozes spin and Radwanska fails to deal with it. The American is just brimming with confidence now as she moves to 40-15 on serve.

But a forehand volley drifts long - there's been a few of those today - and a backhand glides long to haul this game back to deuce. Williams then sprays a third ball long and she's suddenly facing break point.

Unfazed, Williams just keeps on battering that ball - and this time, it stays in. Back to deuce. A couple of game points go wanting, but Williams clings on to consolidate the break.

Williams breaks

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Three break points for Williams! What a turnaround. The American's forehand is in scintillating form and Radwanska just can't do anything about it. The Pole finds herself scrapping along the baseline once more and eventually breaks down, gifting Williams the break to love. It's sensational stuff from Williams right now. Just sensational. But can she keep this up?

What a battle we have on Rod Laver Arena, Williams is giving it everything out there while Radwanska is scrambling around and making the American fight for every point. It's a close game, but Williams seals it with a 116mph serve - the fastest of the match.

Williams breaks

The crowd are on their feet as Williams picks up a drop shot, leaps one way to pick up a volley and then stretches the other to pick up another for a winner! Sensational! Break point is her reward and she takes it with a crisp forehand volley. Williams is not done yet. We're back level, folks.

Radwanska breaks

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Williams comes out fighting at the start of this set, racing to a 30-0 lead. But it's agony as she spoons a smash way out of court, narrowly missing a line judge. Suddenly, she finds herself at 30-30. And two points later, she concedes the break. How important will that mistake on the smash prove to be?

Game and second set

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It's evident that Williams' isn't hitting the ball as hard as she was in the first set and the American is also a touch slower to the ball. Radwanska takes advantage, clinching the game to level the match and take us into a decider.

Good hold from Williams, who stops the run of five straight games going against her, but has it simply delayed the inevitable? Radwanska will serve for the set shortly.

Williams is in serious bother here, with Radwanska stretching the American from side to side and even throwing in the odd cheeky drop shot. Williams tries coming to the net in an attempt to mix it up, but she is promptly passed. An ace later and the game is done.

Radwanska breaks

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Radwanska is looking super confident right now, the Pole whipping up a lob that Williams doesn't even bother looking at, the American knowing she's been beaten.

At game point, a Williams forehand is called out. She ponders a challenge but decides against it. We then have a shot of sister Serena telling her to challenge and then raising her eyes in disbelief when she sees Venus decide against it.

Williams unravels, losing the next two points and it's another break for Radwanska. We're heading for a deciding set, folks.

It's all too easy for Radwanska in this game, the Pole cruising through for the loss of just a single point. It's Williams who now looks a bit lost.

Radwanska breaks

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Radwanska looks like she's found a rhythm on her returns and rustles up two break points. Williams has a golden opportunity to put a smash away, but hits wide and Radwanska gets the break. The pendulum looks to have swung the other way. How will Williams respond?

Radwanska gets that sinking feeling as she watches a Williams lob glide over her head and drop in to bring up 0-30. The Pole is soon facing two break points, the first of which is saved as Williams hit long. The second is saved in better fashion, courtesy of a very timely ace. Deuce.

Radwanska battles through the next two points, helped hugely by her first serve returning to form, to seal her first game in what feels like forever.

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That sitdown at the change of ends has clearly done Radwanska the world of good with the Pole coming out and rustling up her first break point of the match.

Williams saves it and does the same with two more before manufacturing a game point - but she goes too big and we're back to deuce. Just the nine minutes for this game so far...

Three minutes later and Williams manages to string two points together to win the game - her fifth in a row. It hasn't been as easy as that stat suggests, but the American is winning all the close games.

Game, set and match

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Eighth seed Milos Raonic came through an intense tussle against Spain's Feliciano Lopez on Hisense Arena. The Canadian beat the 12th seed 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-7 (7-9) 6-3, smashing 30 aces and 81 winners, to reach the quarter-finals where he will face the winner of Novak Djokovic and Gilles Muller.

Lopez saved two match points during the fourth-set tie-break, incredibly that was the third match in a row he has saved a match point.

Match stats

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That first set lasted 51 minutes, with most of the time spent on that marathon seventh game. It was Williams who was the more aggressive and consistent, clocking up 10 break point opportunities to Radwanska's 0.

Williams headed the winners tally 20 to 10 and won 47% of the receiving points, compared to just 18% for Radwanska. Can Williams take this form into the second set?

Game and first set

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Dangerous times for Radwanska, whose first serve is falling apart. The Pole looks a bit lost out there and soon finds herself at 15-30.

Radwanska battles back in the next couple of points, but Williams forces deuce. Oh dear. We've been here before...

Williams hits a forehand that glues itself to the line and though Radwanska pokes it back, the American whips it away for set point.

But it's agony for Williams as she jumps too early for a smash and makes a hash of it. A second and third set point slip by but she will not be denied a fourth. Williams takes the set - and deservedly so.

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That's exactly what the Williams team doctor will have ordered, a nice quick service hold after a marathon sixth game. Williams drops just one point to consolidate the break and move to within a game of the first set.

Williams breaks

On we go, another break point saved - and that's followed up with a game point for Radwanska. But Williams will not let this go.

Despite being dragged around the court, Williams picks everything up, finishing the point with a lovely backhand volley for deuce.

Radwanska's forehand lets her down for another break point, but Williams again fails to take it. Does anyone want this game?

A sixth break point for Williams! And at last she takes it! Just the 30 points to win that game, then. Crikey.

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Williams goes after the Radwanska second serve and gets her reward for 15-15. The American then hunts down a short ball and punishes it to put some pressure on the Pole's serve.

But two unforced errors - her sixth and seventh of the match - swing the momentum back to Radwanska, who promptly throws it a way with a tame forehand. Deuce.

A break point - the first of the match - is Williams' for the taking, but she wastes it with an error on her forehand. No bother, though, as the American attacks the Radwanska serve, which is starting to falter, once more and is rewarded with a break point.

It goes wanting, Williams' screeching in frustration as she dumps a forehand pass in the net - she knows the opportunity was there for the taking. Deuce again.

Bit of a change-up from Williams, who takes the pace off the ball and whips it cross-court, forcing Radwanska to the net. The Pole doesn't deal with it well, dumping the ball in the net. Before she knows it, Williams has 40-0 on the board and the game is hers when a stretching backhand from Radwanska drifts long.

Blink and you'll miss it, Radwanska blitzes through her service game to love for her first comfortable hold of the match.

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Williams' hard and heavy approach to her hitting is working at the moment, with only the odd mistake creeping in.

Radwanska is covering the court well, but just struggling to deal with the power at the moment. Williams holds. It's a fine start to what could very well turn into a very tasty contest.

Radwanska conjures up some magic with a delicate drop shot which leaves Williams scrambling. The American gets to it, but it's an easy put away for the Pole to bring up 30-0.

But back comes Williams, with her contrasting style of hitting the ball hard - very hard. The American steps inside the baseline, controlling the next two points and we're level at 30-30.

A loose shot from Williams, followed by an angled forehand into the corner, which Williams chooses not to chase down, and it's a hold for Radwanska.

A lengthy rally gets us under way in the first point on Venus' serve, with the American timing the ball well. Unfortunately, Venus can't get the depth and Radwanska bides her time before hammering a forehand down the line.

An overrule from the umpire leaves Radwanska fuming, but hawk-eye shows it was a good call. Venus ploughs on, battering a forehand into the corner to close the game out to 15. Big, big hitting from the American.

Venus' tactics are clear. She's going after this match early doors, rushing to the net when she can in an attempt to keep the points short. The results are mixed, and despite forcing Radwanska to deuce, the American concedes the game.

The warm-up is over. There's just time for one final sip of water and a wipe of the towel before we get this fourth round match under way. Radwanska to serve. Let's do this.

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Agnieszka Radwanska, coached by tennis legend Martina Navratilova, has had a smooth passage through to the fourth round, winning all three matches in straight sets.

"I think playing her is always a great challenge," said Radwanska of Williams. "I think she's still playing great tennis even though she's a bit older.

"She's still really fit and playing at a high level. It's going to be another good match."

Venus Williams leads Agnieszka Radwanska in their head-to-head 5-4, but the Pole has won their last three meetings, all in straight sets.

"She's played really well against me in the last matches," said Williams of her opponent. "I was hoping to have an all-American round of 16 with Varvara, but it didn't work out."

The players are out on court, with Venus Williams sticking with her green and white 'eye of the tiger' print dress for this last 16 encounter....

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How far can Venus Williams go in this tournament? How do you think she would fair against sister Serena should they both make the semi-finals? Who is your tip to claim the women's title? Answers in the form of a tweet (#bbctennis) or text (81111 - UK only) would be good...

Serena battles into last four

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Victory for Venus today will mean she remains on course to meet sister Serena in the semi-finals after the latter came through a nervy fourth-round match against Garbine Muguruza 2-6 6-3 6-2.

It was anything but vintage from the American top seed, who suffered a mid-game coughing fit on her way to grinding out victory on Rod Laver Arena.

"I think I caught that bug," said the American. "I've just been sick. I've been fighting it with vitamin C and all kinds of stuff. But I just have a really bad cough."

Venus Williams has never won the Australian Open - her best showing came in 2003 when she was beaten by sister Serena in three sets. And at 34, the odds of her doing so now are not in her favour. But that won't stop the American trying.

"I do my best every single day," said the seven-time major champion. "That's pretty much the way it goes. I think just not being afraid is the most important thing."

"I like to win titles, whether it's a smaller event or a big event. That's what I play for. So, yes, it's great to be in the second week. But is the fourth round my goal when I come to these tournaments? No."

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Morning everybody and a very warm welcome to our live coverage of an absolute cracker of a fourth-round tie at the Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam.

American Venus Williams, in the twilight of her tremendous career at 34, takes on sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, a former Wimbledon finalist.

The winner will take on American Madison Keys, who beat fourth seed Petra Kvitova earlier this week, in the quarter-finals.

EPA

Reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam used to be a given for Venus Williams. Winning majors with that familiar smile was more her forte.

But things changed when she was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome - an autoimmune disorder that has left her lacking energy at tournaments, in 2011.

Winner of seven Grand Slams, her last triumph came back in 2007. Her last fourth round appearance was nearly four years ago at Wimbledon.

But at Melbourne Park this year, the American has looked stronger and quicker than she has done for years while that gritty, dogged determination remains.

The smile is back. Venus is back. The question is: how far can she go?