Australian Open 2025 LIVE updates: The grand slam contender with more than a million listens on Spotify; Tense battle on Rod Laver Arena

Humid conditions at Rod Laver Arena have seen the crowd turn to old-fashioned methods to keep cool with many brandishing a paper fan.

Between sets a flurry of fans can be seen flapping in the crowd like butterfly wings.

The fans are the hit accessory of the day with Melbourne retailer Haus of Dizzy diversifying from its usual jewellery products to sell paper fans emblazoned with “Kiss my ace”.

Coco Gauff has convincingly won her second set against Belinda Bencic, a demonstration of her resilience after a first set loss.

The American has hit 17 winners and won both break point opportunities within the set, which lasted only 38 minutes.

Meanwhile, 18th seed Donna Vekic has lost her first set in a tie-break against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The Croatian then called for a medial timeout, with staff appearing to attend to her knee.

If you’re finding it difficult to keep up to date with the fourth round women’s singles matches – you’re not alone.

Three of today’s four matches are currently being played, with Sabalenka having already secured her win earlier this afternoon. Talk about a packed schedule …

Coco Gauff dropped her first set against Belinda Bencic, but has come back with a vengeance, currently leading the second 4-1.

Olga Danilovic has had a better start to the second set of her match with Badosa, where the score is even at 2-2. Badosa won the first set convincingly, the score 6-1.

Finally, Donna Vekic and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova are headed for a tie-break in the first set, with the score tied at 6-6.

If you have three screens available, we recommend watching all three matches simultaneously. If not, we’ll try our best to keep you updated with the latest news.

When music came on at a change of ends at the Adelaide International a couple of years ago, Italian player Lorenzo Sonego smiled and started to sing along. It was his song.

He thought he had better make sure he broke serve in the next game.

A little known fact to locals here – though fairly well known in Italy – Sonego, who on Monday plays against American Learner Tien in the fourth round of the Australian Open, has released three singles with his friend the artist AlterEdo.

It started as just a bit of fun. It was a hobby, but the two friends decided to record something, with Sonego singing, and in 2021 they posted the song Un Solo Secondo to Spotify.

They were as shocked as anyone when, in 2023, it went past a million listens. It now has more than 1.5 million listens and they have released two more songs, Swing in 2022 and Cielo Aperto in 2023.

“I think my friend is really creative,” Sonego previously told ATPTour.com.

“I just put in the voice and some of the words, but the really hard work is done by my friend. It is good for switching off from the tennis. To have something different and to spend time with my friend.”

The 29-year-old Italian figured music to be more than a hobby, with plans to explore it more when his playing career ends.

“I don’t have loads of time, but I try to spend time when I have it to do a bit. I mainly do it when I’m back in Italy,” Sonego said in 2023.

“Rome was a good period working on the music. When I’m away at a tournament, I try to learn the songs and I think of ideas for the song. I want to do the best songs, but I have no pressure, unlike tennis. It’s tough to do better each time.”

He is not alone among tennis players in exploring music. Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, who lost in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday, released a song in 2020 called Thousands Of Me and followed up with another dance song called Favourite Track.

Ahead of the Australian Open the world No.21 said she had plans for another song, which will be out next month.

“In February I hope that one new song will come out,” she said. “It’s gonna be three of us, three different countries, that we, you know, got together and we made a nice song. I’m not going to talk much about it. You’re going to hear it soon, I hope.”

Over to Margaret Court Arena now, where Paula Badosa has won her first set convincingly, 6-1 against Olga Danilovic.

The Spaniard looks impressive on court, only dropping one point on her first serve. She has also only missed one return shot, and is yet to face a break point.

Danilovic was able to convert her first service game in the second last of the match. The Serbian player was growing visibly frustrated as the match progressed.

The winner of this match will face either Elena Rybakina or Madison Keys in the quarter-finals.

Belinda Bencic has taken the first set from third seed Coco Gauff in a little over an hour of play, winning 5-7.

It was the Swiss player’s second opportunity to serve for the match, managing to break the American on two occasions after a balanced start.

The new mum played assertively and consistently, sticking to the baseline and drawing Gauff into long rallies.

Gauff was strong during her service matches – winning 74 per cent of her first serve points. But she made 20 unforced errors to Bencic’s 10.

The 20-year-old is on serve to start the second set, where she will be hoping for a better result.

Coco Gauff is world No.3 for a reason. Just as quickly as the Swiss player was able to secure a break, the American clutched another.

The 20-year-old played some of her best tennis of the match to even the score 5-5.

She is now on serve, with the scores level 30-30. This match has lasted a little over 50 minutes so far.

Bencic’s experience is shining through on Rod Laver.

She saved one break point against Gauff during her previous service match, before storming from 30-0 down to win her latest service game and even the score to 4-4.

And then it was Bencic applying the pressure, standing strongly on the baseline and triggering four deuces on the scoreboard during the American’s service match.

The Swiss player was finally able to break Gauff and is now serving for the set.