Ryan Harrison
Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

I think Novak Djokovic wins this in four sets.

I think that it could go to five sets, but I'm going for four sets because Djokovic is playing great tennis, he is the best ever and he is playing well on this court.

I'm excited - this should be fun!

Right then, here we go as Novak Djokovic gets us under way on Rod Laver Arena.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

Image source, BBC Sport

Earlier, I was talking about the weather conditions being warm.

Well, it’s gone cold. A wind has whipped up, too.

Champagne glasses were crashing off tables in the swanky outdoor terrace outside Rod Laver Arena.

Hope it was empty.

Reckon the stiff breeze could affect Alcaraz’s work-in-progress serve. But we will see.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne

The feeling is Djokovic cannot outlast the very best of his younger opponents over five sets like he used to.

Jannik Sinner's comfortable victory in last year's Melbourne semi-final - ending Djokovic's 33-match winning streak spanning six years - damaged the Serb's aura of invincibility.

Sinner and Alcaraz evenly splitting the four major titles last year added further evidence that the changing of the guard was finally happening.

It was the first year since 2017 - and only the second since 2011 - that Djokovic did not win a Grand Slam.

Image source, Getty Images

This marks the first time Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have faced each other at the Australian Open, but they have played each other three times at Grand Slams previously.

Djokovic won their first encounter at the 2023 French Open semi-finals, but Alcaraz triumphed in the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon finals.

Djokovic was victorious during their last meeting, beating Alcaraz at the Paris Olympics to win the last major title missing from his collection.

Overall, Djokovic has four wins to Alcaraz's three.

You can read more on their rivalry here.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka on her tiger tattoo: "I got it one month before I turned 18 years old. I was born in the year of the tiger and I was literally dreaming for six months about getting a tiger tattoo, so I thought you know what I have to go and get it done. Now it is a reminder of never giving up, staying aggressive, staying hungry and pushing myself no matter what is going on in life.

"After Elena Rybakina's coach got their tattoo after her Wimbledon win, I told my team that this is true love guys. So yes, we are going to talk about that [them getting a tiger tattoo].

"If I win the Australian Open, which hopefully I do fingers crossed, we are going to celebrate and I'm going to put something in their drink which puts them to sleep, then I'm going to call a tattoo specialist so they wake up with a tiger tattoo. How about that? Just kidding!"

Just before we move on to Novak Djokovic v Carlos Alcaraz, here are those post-match quotes from Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka speaking on court after keeping her three-peat dream alive: "Honestly, I was just praying today. I was just praying to put the ball back in these tough conditions. We both were just trying to put the ball back and it was very difficult to play against her. She played amazing tennis, she is very aggressive. I'm just super happy I managed to somehow magically win this match.

"Thank you so much guys for the atmosphere. Now you guys can enjoy the battle between Djokovic and Alcaraz. That is definitely going to be a bit better tennis!"

On her route to the semi-finals: "I would say that I have already had some tough battles in this tournament, in the second round I was 5-2 down so it was a very difficult match. So I think it is good to have these tough battles to go through them and be tougher in the later stages of the tournament. I wish I had won this match in straight sets, but it is what it is. I'm glad I'm in the semi-finals and I can't wait to play against Paula [Badosa]."

Coming up shortly in arguably the standout matchup of the tournament so far, Serb seventh seed Novak Djokovic will take on Spanish third seed Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals next on Rod Laver Arena.

We will get to their epic rivalry shortly, but first let's look at what's on the line in Melbourne.

Djokovic, 37, is looking to break Margaret Court's record and win an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam.

Alcaraz meanwhile, is looking to secure the only Slam missing from his collection and become the youngest player in history to win the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

Alcaraz is 21 while current record holder and compatriot Rafael Nadal completed the feat aged 24.

Image source, Getty Images

Aryna Sabalenka is now two wins away from becoming the first woman since Martina Hingis 26 years ago to win three consecutive Australian Open titles.

Only four other women have achieved the feat in history - Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.

Illustrious company.

Aryna Sabalenka's reward for beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is a last-four tie with Spanish 11th seed Paula Badosa.

Badosa stunned American third seed Coco Gauff earlier today, winning 7-5 6-4.

Top seed Sabalenka is conducting her post-match interview now and we will have full quotes shortly.

Ryan Harrison
Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Again, it was just the first serve of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova that broke down a bit.

This is just the difference between why she has that top 10 potential but she is yet to be able to crack that top 10.

When it goes south, she starts letting the mistakes bundle. She has got to learn how to slow down when those things start to bundle up.

Aryna Sabalenka dashes to the net and blasts down a forehand winner.

Two match points for the defending champion.

A miss a-piece before Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova goes long again. 30-15.

Ah. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has played so well, but she tightens up there and lifts the ball long.

Aryna Sabalenka is one game away from a place in the semi-finals.

Nope. Eager to get the break, Aryna Sabalenka overhits and the ball just floats over to the wrong side of the baseline.

But she's got another chance!

Some rash decision making from Aryna Sabalenka there. The world number one goes big - too big - on the Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova second serve and blazes the ball into the net.

Two misses from the Russian hand Sabalenka a break point, though. This would be huge if the defending champion can get it.

We're getting to crunch time and the nerves are telling as Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova double faults.

She recovers with a stunning forehand winner, but there's a yell from Aryna Sabalenka on the next point as the Russian goes long.

The defending champion repays the favour with an overhit. 30-30.

Image source, Getty Images

Two gigantic serves from Aryna Sabalenka help ease the pressure before she lands a smart volley and then Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova nets.

The top seed was having real trouble with her service games, but it looks like she's back on track now.

Image source, Getty Images

Ryan Harrison
Former American tennis player on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

This is the story of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

This is why, despite having so many major quarter-finals and a Grand Slam final under her belt, she has never been top 10 in the world.

When things start to roll in the opposite direction, she starts playing very fast in-between points, she starts getting very frustrated and she starts looking over to her box a lot.