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Here's a sight we haven't seen to often in recent years.

Rafael Nadal, currently in the unfamiliar position of ninth in the world, has not reached a Grand Slam semi-final since the French Open in 2014 and failed to get past the fourth round of a Slam last year.

But, like his mid-noughties compadre Roger Federer, there is something renewed about the Spanish slinger.

Only one of his 14 Grand Slam titles has come at Melbourne... could he?

The players are out to a 80% full Rod Laver - it's important to get a beverage in before taking your seat.

In fact, the last time Serena Williams faced Mirjana Lucic-Baroni was in 1998, four months before Google was invented.

So, what were you up to in 1998?

I was still a year away from doing my GCSEs and probably had a Tamagotchi.

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Serena Williams - 35

Venus Williams - 36

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni - 34

Roger Federer - 35

Stan Wawrinka - 31

So that's five of our eight semi-finalists over the age of 30 - and possibly another to add if Rafa Nadal progresses.

Somebody has been firing up the DeLorean.

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Check your predictions, folks, we have an outside contender for Aussie Open champ.

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov remains unbeaten in 2017 after beating Belgian 11th seed David Goffin to reach the semi-finals.

Dimitrov, seeded 15th, won 6-3 6-2 6-4 to reach his second major semi-final - the 25-year-old made it to the same stage at Wimbledon in 2014.  

He'll face the winner of the upcoming match between Rafa Nadal and Milos Raonic.

"The last two years have been a rollercoaster for me, but I'm happy with the way it happened," he said.

"I'm appreciating things much better now. To be back in the semi-finals of a Slam means too much for me right now."

Read more here.

Milos Raonic is in the bowels of Rod Laver (the arena) kicking a football around to warm up.

Cricketers like a bit of football to warm up too, don't they?

What sport should footballers use to warm up?

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We mentioned Mirjana Lucic-Baroni reaching the semi-finals and it's quite the story - it's the first time she's made the last four of a Grand Slam since 1999.

The world number 79 upset fifth seed Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-4 3-6 6-4 - 18 years after she reached the same stage at Wimbledon.

The 34-year-old hardly played in the early years of the century because of a series of personal issues.

"I can't believe this, this is crazy," said Lucic-Baroni.

"I feel a little bit in shock right now."

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And more disappointing news from the British camp as defending champion Gordon Reid was knocked out in the first round of the men's wheelchair singles.

He was beaten 7-5 5-7 7-5 by Belgian Joachim Gerard.

Reid's compatriot Alfie Hewett lost 6-3 3-6 6-3 to French second seed Stephane Houdet. 

But Lucy Shuker reached the women's wheelchair singles semi-finals by beating Marjolein Buis. 

Read more here.

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If you've only just got up. Or, if you got up two hours ago but had to get the kids dressed, make breakfast, scrape the ice off the car ad prepare yourself for the daily grind, you may not know how British number one Johanna Konta got on in her quarter-final against Serena Williams.

Well, she lost.

Williams was in a no-nonsense mood as the six-time champion outplayed ninth seed Konta to triumph 6-2 6-3.

It ended a nine-match unbeaten run this year and a terrific performance in Melbourne for the 25-year-old.

Six-time champ Williams, 35, will next play unseeded Croat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who beat fifth seed Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-4 3-6 6-4.

Read more here.

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"How much more do you want from me?"

"Just a little bit more, Rafa. Give us just a little bit more."

"This much more?"

"Yeah. Sure. I mean the space between your fingers is very difficult to translate into tangible success. But yes, give us that much more."

"OK. For you, I will give this much more and try to win the glorious Australian Open."

"Thanks Rafa. Nice watch."

"Gracias. Nice hair."

"Thanks Rafa. I just had it cut."

This is a conversation that may or may not have taken place between us and Rafa Nadal earlier today.

The Spaniard is in semi-final action against Milos Raonic imminently. Stay with us.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Good morning.

Congratulations if you managed to stay up to listen British number one Johanna Konta takes on Serena Williams on the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

If you didn't, you can listen to the final hour of the match right now on BBC Radio 5 lie sports extra by using the links at the top of the page.

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So the sun sets on Johanna Konta's Melbourne campaign - a round earlier than last year.

But there is no shame in a run that saw her dispatch some pretty decent opposition before running into a Serena-shaped juggernaut.

We will be back with live text commentary of Rafael Nadal v Milos Raonic later today but, for now, goodbye. 

There is a distinctly late nineties/early noughties feel to the semi-final line-up with the Williams' sisters poised on either side of the draw, and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time in nearly two decades.

Only American Coco Vandeweghe - a lot less fluffy than her name suggests - brings us back to 2017.

Coco Vendeweghe v Venus Williams

Mirjana Lucic Baroni v Serena Williams  

Serena Williams: "Johanna Konta has been playing so well, I was in the locker room watching her clean up her matches, she is a future champion here for sure, so I am pleased to get through this. 

"I got a little frustrated with my serve, but I told myself 'don't get Babyrena' and focused on enjoying myself out here. Today I felt I can do this, it is such a great opportunity for me.

On her semi-final opponent: "It is really happening for the mid-thirties. Mirjana - it is so good to see her back out and inspiring to see her in the semi-finals. Whatever happens there will be someone in the final in their mid-thirties."

Serena Williams socks a forehand winner away and the Stars and Stripes are fluttering in the Rod Laver Arena stands at 30-30.

Old Glory floats a little higher as Johanna Konta flies wide down the line.

Break point Williams.

First serve missed. Konta onto the back foot behind the second and Williams delivers the fatal backhand blow.

She serves for a semi-final spot next.

That was a chance at 30-40. Actually it was the chance.

Serena Williams closes the door firmly with successive aces.

And the spotlight spins back on Konta in this volatile point in the match.

Biff-bosh, to-fro, hammer-tong.

Johanna Konta comes dancing into the net like Nijinsky and sweeps a drive volley cross court and away for a winner.

Break point at 30-40.

First serve missed as Williams radar goes wonky once again.

But Konta whops the second-serve return wide. That was a chance.

Deuce.

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And just as suddenly Serena is back in the room.

She rattles to 0-40 in a twinkle and this time there is no escape from three break points down for Johanna Konta.

A nothing-much dropper into centre-court isn't just telegraphed, it had a sky-writer hyping it's arrival two weeks out.

Williams is onto it in a flash and whips away the winner to pull the second set back to parity.

Serena Williams is suddenly a stranger to her own game.

A pleading "C'mon" and an exasperated shake of the head as she belatedly hits that first-set vein and delivers two aces of acute accuracy to get out of trouble.

When she in control of her power game, she is unstoppable. But it can get off the leash and run wild,