Day eight of the Australian Open
Novak Djokovic beats Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4) in fourth round
Jack Draper retires injured while trailing Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 1-6
Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka beats Mirra Andreeva 6-1 6-2
Coco Gauff joins her in quarter-finals after 5-7 6-2 6-1 win over Belinda Bencic
Britain's Henry Patten and Olivia Nicholls beat Italian top seeds to reach mixed doubles quarter-finals
Use audio icon to listen to live commentary from Melbourne on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra (UK only)
Draper 0-1 Alcaraz*
Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
The first drop shot from Alcaraz has taken seven minutes.
You can see the indication of trying to make Jack’s legs run as much as possible early on in this match. Just to send a few messages psychologically as well.
*Draper 0-1 Alcaraz
Jack Draper draws Carlos Alcaraz in with a drop shot, but the four-time major winner is quick to get there and takes control of the point to bring up the first break point.
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne
Draper didn't land a first serve in the first five points of this game.
When he eventually did, Alcaraz read it and thumped away the winner.
Ouch.
*Draper 0-1 Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz looks keen to attack Jack Draper's serve early and it pays off here as he sends down a forehand winner.
The Spaniard's a bit too eager on the next point, pushing into the net as he made his move forward.
A double fault brings us to 30-30 then Alcaraz fails in a sneaky drop shot attempt before launching a lovely winner down the line. Deuce.
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne
It is safe to say a player who is aiming to become the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam does not have many faults.
However, if there was one area where Carlos Alcaraz was weaker than the rest, it was his serve.
So what has changed?
The service motion looks more relaxed than previously, with a looser wrist action giving him more rhythm.
The start of the serve also seems smoother. There used to be a slight pause before the downswing, but now it is more fluid, which means more precision.
*Draper 0-1 Alcaraz
A big serve from Carlos Alcaraz gets us started and then there's a big 'oooh' from the crowd as Jack Draper sends a wild return into the sky.
Just as Alcaraz looks set to wrap up a straightforward service game, he double faults. But he gets it on the next go and forces a miss from Draper, grabbing the hold.
Draper 0-0 Alcaraz*
Russell Fuller
Tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
To expect Jack Draper to be as fresh as a daisy in this match is clearly totally unrealistic.
He’s going to be hurting. I thought he looked very strong on court in the last two sets against Alexander Vukic in the third round so credit for that, but every round it’s getting harder to come back and be fresh again.
I think were going to see all out attack from Jack Draper. He’s going to be very aggressive within reason.
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne
Image source, BBC SportThis is not Draper's first appearance on Rod Laver Arena.
But he will be hoping it is a better experience.
Two years ago, Draper tested Spanish great Rafael Nadal before cramping issues cost him in a four-set loss in the first round.
The British number one has been back, though.
Last week he re-familiarised himself with the Melbourne Park show-court with practice sets against Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner.
Draper 0-0 Alcaraz*
Ready? Here we go...
Carlos Alcaraz serves first to get us under way.
*denotes next server.
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne
Draper will feel he has answered a few critics after coming through three successive five-setters.
The robustness he has added has been the product of hard graft with his physical trainer Steve Kotze - who he calls the "best in the world" - and physio Will Herbert.
Draper has also sought professional advice to overcome the anxiety issues which led to being sick on court in New York last year.
All the work has helped him, as he says, "go for longer" in energy-sapping matches.
But if he is going to have any chance of beating Alcaraz, you feel he will have to do the same again - if he is physically able to.
Draper v Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz, by contrast, has been reasonably efficient in Melbourne, dropping just one set and spending only six hours and 10 minutes on court.
Image source, Getty ImagesDraper v Alcaraz
Jack Draper is the last remaining Briton in singles action in Melbourne, but he has been made to work hard, spending 12 hours and 34 minutes on court so far.
Image source, Getty ImagesDraper v Alcaraz
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Jack Draper and Carlos Alcaraz have arrived on Rod Laver Arena.
As the pair warm-up, you can tune into BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra to hear live commentary of this fourth-round tie.
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne
How Draper fares against Alcaraz depends heavily on how he pulls up on Saturday.
After another late-night grueller against Aleksandar Vukic, Draper was planning to recharge and refuel with plenty of sleep and food.
The British number one spoke during his post-Vukic news conference - which wrapped up about 2:30am - about switching off from tennis and trying to relax.
Image source, Getty ImagesTwo-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka sailed into the quarter-finals, moving past 14th seed Mirra Andreeva with a 62-minute 6-1 6-2 victory.
Sabalenka, who has now won 18 straight matches at the Australian Open, will face Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after the 27th seed defeated Croatia's Donna Vekic with a 7-6 (7-0) 6-0 win.
American third Coco Gauff seed fought back to claim a 5-7 6-2 6-1 win against Belinda Bencic and set up a last-eight meeting with Spain's Paula Badosa, who beat Serbia's Olga Danilovic 6-1 7-6 (7-2).
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne
When I headed out for a steady run this morning on Melbourne's tan track - a popular gravel running route around the city's Botanical Gardens, it was sweltering.
Sweat was pouring everywhere. So how do these tennis players manage in the heat? It really is an amazing feat of endurance.
But it can get too hot.
The Australian Open has a heat stress scale to protect the players and will bring them off court when it hits five. As you can see it is 3.6 at the moment.
This takes into account four factors: radiant heat (the strength of the sun), air temperature in the shade, humidity and wind speed.
Today, a lovely breeze is bringing a bit of freshness and the humidity is low at 21%, hence a lower scale reading than I expected.
Image source, BBC SportHere's a look at the singles matches we've got left to come today...
Rod Laver Arena
Jack Draper [15] v Carlos Alcaraz [3]
Novak Djokovic [7] v Jiri Lehecka [24]
Margaret Court Arena
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina v Tommy Paul [12]
John Cain Arena
Ugo Humbert [14] v Alexander Zverev [2]
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport in Melbourne
Image source, BBC SportStrewth, it's a sizzler in Melbourne today.
The temperature is already into the mid-30s - about 34C when I last checked.
Not ideal for Jack Draper, who has struggled in the heat and played three five-setters already.
It may be the early hours of the morning in the UK, but the tennis is up and running down under in Melbourne.
So to those of you that haven't been to bed yet and to the ones waking up especially early, welcome to our live text for day eight of the Australian Open!
British number one Jack Draper will be on court shortly as he takes on Carlos Alcaraz in search of a place in the quarter-finals.
It's going to be a big one.
Image source, Getty Images
