Australian Open 2025 LIVE updates: ‘Dream come true’: Badosa stuns Gauff; Djokovic, Alcaraz to clash in blockbuster

Alexander Zverev and Tommy Paul are in the early stages of their quarter-final clash on centre court, and they’re working each other out so far.

Games are on serve. World No.2 Zverev and Paul, ranked 11th, are locked at 3-3.

Something makes me feel this is going to go the distance, possibly up to a long five-setter, and play out under some stinging Melbourne heat.

Australian tennis great Margaret Court has been spotted soaking up the action from the stands of Rod Laver Arena today.

Court shares the most grand slam singles titles victories with 24-time winner Novak Djokovic.

This could be the year she hands over the crown. Djokovic takes on Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz tonight in a blockbuster quarter-final as he searches for his 25th grand slam title.

It will be interesting to see if Court, who lives in Western Australia, sticks around for the clash.

As Alexandar Zverev and Tommy Paul trade blows on centre court, we bring you some updates from the outside courts.

Rising tennis star Duje Markovina, who recently switched allegiances from Croatia to Australia, is out of the Australian Open.

The 17-year-old from Split, who was Croatia’s highest-ranked junior player, lost his second-round boys singles clash with Russian Timofei Derepasko, 4-6, 4-6.

Four-time Australian Open doubles champion Heath Davidson is out of the quad wheelchair singles competition after losing to fellow Australian Jin Woodman in the first round.

Woodman won the first set in a tie-break 6-7 (2-7). Davidson took the second, 6-2, but Woodman sealed victory in the third, 3-6.

Don’t expect any poetic quotes or motivational messages from Tommy Paul if the American earns the right to sign the camera lens after his quarter-final clash against Alexander Zverev.

The pair are on Rod Laver Arena now for the right to advance to the Australian Open quarter-finals – Zverev is the tournament’s second seed, while Paul is ranked 12.

When asked during the Open if he gave any thought to what he wrote on the camera after a victory, Paul said he liked to “keep it simple”.

“I don’t think about what I’m going to sign. I just sign my name every time,” he said.

“I remember a couple of years ago they were doing shapes and stuff on there, but I haven’t gotten too creative with it.”

The players’ messages have been one of the entertaining talking points of the tournament.

We’ve had some moments of humour.

Emma Navarro after her first-round win: “Oh my gosh, this is my first time signing the lens”.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 33, after her fourth-round win: “Too old but keep going.

There have also been some touching tributes.

Elina Svitolina: “The spirit of Ukraine,” accompanied by a love heart

Novak Djokovic showed his support for a Serbian student run over during a protest: “For Sonja”

Lleyton Hewitt might have lost some court speed, but he hasn’t lost the magic.

He pulled out a triple tweener during his Legends Cup men’s doubles victory alongside Pat Rafter on Kia Arena.

Admittedly, opponents James Blake and Tommy Haas were not hitting the ball with any heat.

Earlier we brought you the news that the Australians had won the first set, 6-3, lost the second, 3-6, and then emerged triumphant in the deciding super tie-breaker, 10-8.

Triumphant Spaniard Paula Badosa has revealed she feared her career was over 12 months ago when she was struggling with a back injury during the Australian Open.

Now11th seed has advanced to her first grand slam semi-final after out-muscling American No.3 seed Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4 in one hour and 43 minutes.

Badosa, 27, has had to manage chronic back pain since the beginning of 2023, when a doctor told her that she might not be able to continue playing tennis. The injury flared again at Melbourne Park last year.

“I’ve been through a lot,” Badosa told Nine commentator Alicia Molik during an emotional post-match interview.

“In the past, I was one of the best players in the world, but I think now I am a better player, more mature … for me this was a dream come true.

“I mean, a year ago, I was here with my back that I didn’t know if I had to retire from this sport.

“Now I’m here playing against the best in the world. I won today. I’m in semi-finals, so I would never think that a year ago.”

It was the first time Badosa had beaten a top 10 player in a grand slam event.

For Gauff, 20, it was a sad end to what had been shaping as a promising tournament. The 2023 US Open winner could not replicate her semi-final appearance of last year.

Spaniard Paula Badosa has caused an upset in the quarter-finals, downing her higher-ranked opponent Coco Gauff on Rod Laver Arena.

She took the match 7-5, 6-4 and advances to her first semi-final of a grand slam.

“I’m a bit emotional,” she told Nine’s Alicia Molik after the match.

“Overcoming something like this the last slam, the quarter-finals were very tough, so today I came in, I wanted to play my best game, and I think I did it,” she said.

Badosa, the tournament’s 11th seed, served for the match at 5-2 but could not close it out against the No.3 seed.

Gauff then clawed back another game, and they turned at 4-5. But Badosa held her nerve to serve out the set and match.

It’s not just quarter-finals action under way at Melbourne Park.

Over at Kia Arena, a pair of Aussie greats have landed a winning blow in their Legends Cup clash.

Aussie greats Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter downed American James Blake and German Tommy Haas in the men’s doubles.

The Australians won the first set 6-3, lost the second 3-6 and then took out the deciding super tie-breaker 10-8.

We’re guessing they’ll be tonguing for a cool drink and possibly an ice bath after all that.