It is Day Nine of the 2024 Australian Open with the final Last 16 ties taking Centre Stage across Melbourne Park featuring Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Victoria Azarenka, Elina Svitolina and Alexander Zverev.
The schedule is now confirmed with the Order of Play set and our preview looks ahead to the leading ties and main talking points ahead of another top day of action at the 2024 Australian Open.
Victoria Azarenka is the only former Grand Slam champion left in her quarter of the draw after the demise of Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina among others and so likely a surprise finalist will be set outside of the two-time winner in Melbourne and also the player who starts at the same time as her over on Margaret Court Arena in Elina Svitolina who despite not being a Grand Slam champion was the Comeback Story of 2023 on the WTA Tour.
Azarenka faces a Ukrainian to start the day with Dayana Yastremska up first. Perhaps surprising this placement like the last one on Rod Laver Arena given that Svitolina will face Linda Noskova in a bigger tie over on Margaret Court Arena. Noskova who vanquished Swiatek in the last round, but Vika has great form for bringing out her best in Australia and will now sense a big chance.
Daniil Medvedev then follows up in a second consecutive tie not in the dreaded Night Slot after his toils against Emil Ruusuvuori. He faces Nuno Borges who made history for Portugal and will continue to do so as it will be the first time a Portuguese star will make the Centre Court of a major since Joao Sousa did at Wimbledon against Rafael Nadal.
Onto the Night Session on Rod Laver Arena and Carlos Alcaraz will aim to continue his campaign. Seen as needing to up his level after getting through his matches without a flourish thus far, he has Miomir Kecmanovic who has not had it easy so far facing Jan-Lennard Struff and Tommy Paul in his last two in particular in five set epics but he will have his eyes on another big name and if Alcaraz is undercooked, it could spell the biggest name to go out thus far.
Qinwen Zheng then finishes proceedings. She faced Wang Yafan also on Rod Laver Arena last time with a sweet embrace post match with Li Na and she will now anchor Chinese hopes when she faces Oceane Dodin. Similar to the Kalinskaya v Paolini tie on John Cain Arena last up, the draw has been firmly shaken up and so those two matches will go a long way to deciding an interesting latter stage line-up.
Like alluded to Svitolina will face Noskova first up on Margaret Court Arena as perhaps a collision course with Victoria Azarenka awaits again with the winner of that tie being favourite to reach the final out of those remaining. First she faces the giant killer Linda Noskova, but Svitolina has gone under the radar all tournament and has continued from her 2023 brilliance so unlike other WTA players who fail to back up a big win, it could be said that it is more likely to be the opposite in Svitolina's case.
Before Cameron Norrie takes on Alexander Zverev in the second tie as the latter has not been put on Rod Laver Arena again after heavy criticism previously despite his match with Norrie being better on paper than Alex Michelsen. But that will certainly be one to watch.
While on John Cain Arena, Kalinskaya faces Paolini like discussed with Arthur Cazaux another surprising name through to the Last 16 and he will face Hubert Hurkacz aiming to bring his Masters excellence to a Grand Slam.
Monday OOP (singles): ROD LAVER ARENA Noon Azarenka-Yastremska Medvedev-Borges 7pm Alcaraz-Kecmanovic Zheng-Dodin MARGARET COURT ARENA 1.30pm Svitolina-Noskova 4pm Norrie-Zverev JOHN CAIN ARENA 3pm Cazaux-Hurkacz Dodin-Kalinskaya
Nuno Borges will play on Rod Laver Arena against Daniil Medvedev tomorrow for a place in the #AusOpen QFs. First time a Portuguese player makes the Centre Court of a Major since João Sousa facing Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon R16 as well.
* Day session: From 12 p.m. (0100 GMT)
* Night session: From 7 p.m. (0800 GMT)
ROD LAVER ARENA
18-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) v Dayana Yastremska (Ukraine)
Nuno Borges (Portugal) v 3-Daniil Medvedev (Russia)
Night session
Miomir Kecmanovic (Serbia) v 2-Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)
12-Zheng Qinwen (China) v Oceane Dodin (France)
MARGARET COURT ARENA
Linda Noskova (Czech Republic) v 19-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine)
6-Alexander Zverev (Germany) v 19-Cameron Norrie (Britain)
JOHN CAIN ARENA
Arthur Cazaux (France) v 9-Hubert Hurkacz (Poland)
26-Jasmine Paolini (Italy) v Anna Kalinskaya (Russia)
