Sabalenka holdspublished at 08:41 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 6-2 1-0 Pavlyuchenkova*
The net cord works in Aryna Sabalenka's favour, bouncing up nicely for the top seed to slam a forehand winner down the line and clinch the hold.
Summary
Novak Djokovic beats Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 to reach semi-finals
Aryna Sabalenka survives huge scare to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and reach semi-finals
Paula Badosa earlier stuns Coco Gauff in 'dream come true' moment
Alexander Zverev sees off Tommy Paul to reach last four
Sabalenka holdspublished at 08:41 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Postpublished at 08:40 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
*Sabalenka 6-2 0-0 Pavlyuchenkova
That's better from Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova as she fizzes a backhand past Aryna Sabalenka before getting the better of the defending champion's first serve. 30-30.
Postpublished at 08:38 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
*Sabalenka 6-2 0-0 Pavlyuchenkova
When it comes to Grand Slam quarter-finals, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova does not have the best of records.
She's lost seven and won just one - during her run to the French Open final in 2021.
And, as it stands, it looks like she's en route to another last-eight defeat.
Game and first set - Sabalenkapublished at 08:37 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
*Sabalenka 6-2 0-0 Pavlyuchenkova
"LET'S GO!" roars Aryna Sabalenka.
A dominant first set wrapped up after 31 minutes with a ruthless forehand winner.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's got a lot of work to do to get herself back in this one.
Image source, Getty ImagesSet point Sabalenkapublished at 08:35 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 5-2 Pavlyuchenkova*
Aryna Sabalenka can't reply to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's serve, but the Russian gifts her another set point with a wide mis-hit.
Set point Sabalenkapublished at 08:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 5-2 Pavlyuchenkova*
Another miss from Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova brings up the first set point.
Deuce on Pavlyuchenkova's servepublished at 08:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 5-2 Pavlyuchenkova*
Ahh. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova does so well to go ahead, forcing Aryna Sabalenka into a miss.
But we go to deuce as the Russian lofts the ball long.
Postpublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 5-2 Pavlyuchenkova*
That's not a great start for Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who now has the wind at her back.
Two double faults in a row before she lands a winner, and then she pulls level at 30-30 as Aryna Sabalenka pushes into the net.
Postpublished at 08:29 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 5-2 Pavlyuchenkova*
Boom! Aryna Sabalenka forgets her serving trouble and replies with an absolutely massive forehand winner to grab the hold.
The pressure is back on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who will have to hold serve now to stay in this opening set.
Image source, Getty Images'Good servers have a way of setting you up'published at 08:28 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
*Sabalenka 4-2 Pavlyuchenkova
Ryan Harrison
Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC SoundsAryna Sabalenka seems to get a lot of very timely free points off her serve.
Good servers have a way of setting you up, they have a game plan in their mind for what they want to do throughout a set. They are not just going out there and making split-second impulse decisions.
She is going after the Pavlyuchenkova forehand return, where we have seen a couple of mistakes, and on both of those deuce points she went straight down the middle and was able to serve out a few aces.
Postpublished at 08:27 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 4-2 Pavlyuchenkova*
Aryna Sabalenka steadily works her way through the rally, gradually moving forward before smashing a cross-court volley at the net.
Her momentum is halted by a double fault. And then another! 30-30.
The wind seems to be causing the defending champion a bit of bother on Rod Laver Arena.
Pavlyuchenkova holds to lovepublished at 08:24 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
*Sabalenka 4-2 Pavlyuchenkova
Aryna Sabalenka is caught by surprise on her backhand side with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's second serve and she fires long on the next two points.
And there's an ace to wrap up the hold. A good response after losing her last service game.
Sabalenka holdspublished at 08:22 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 4-1 Pavlyuchenkova*
After Aryna Sabalenka lands an ace, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova tries her best on the next serve to squeeze the return down the line.
It's got the direction, but it lacks the height to get over the fence and Sabalenka holds.
Deuce on Sabalenka's servepublished at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
*Sabalenka 3-1 Pavlyuchenkova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova can't manage anything on Aryna Sabalenka's second serve either, but we're back at deuce as the Belarusian goes long.
Image source, Getty ImagesDeuce on Sabalenka's servepublished at 08:18 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
*Sabalenka 3-1 Pavlyuchenkova
I wouldn't want to be on the end of those Aryna Sabalenka forehands, that's for sure.
She launches herself into that one for a 30-15 lead before planting into the net, but Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova takes us to deuce with a brilliant winner of her own.
Sabalenka breakspublished at 08:16 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
*Sabalenka 3-1 Pavlyuchenkova
Aryna Sabalenka takes advantage of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's weaker second serve, blasting back a forehand that the Russian just can't reach.
There's the break.
Break points Sabalenkapublished at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 2-1 Pavlyuchenkova*
It all goes wrong from there for Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. A double fault, an unforced error and then a blistering Aryna Sabalenka winner.
Two break points for the world number two.
'Pavlyuchenkova has beaten Sabalenka twice prior to this'published at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 2-1 Pavlyuchenkova*
Ryan Harrison
Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC SoundsOne thing that will play into the favour of Pavlyuchenkova is that she has beaten Sabalenka twice prior to this match.
That does play a part when you get to this stage of the tournament, when you think about match-ups and things you have done in the past matches.
Even if it was a few years ago, you find comfort in knowing that you have come out on top against that particular opponent before.
Postpublished at 08:14 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 2-1 Pavlyuchenkova*
The cameras have just zoomed into one of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's tattoos. "Meow" is what it says. I wonder what that's all about?!
Anyway, the Russian gets her next service game up and running with an ace.
Sabalenka holds to lovepublished at 08:12 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January
Sabalenka 2-1 Pavlyuchenkova*
Perfect precision from Aryna Sabalenka as she sends a forehand back in the direction it came from, wrongfooting Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and kissing the line. Lovely.
The world number 27 is getting her racquet onto the end of Sabalenka's first serves, but that's all she can do.
Another comfortable hold.