Key events
Laura Siegemund beats Qinwen Zheng (5) 7-6 5-3
Chinaâs Qinwen Zheng becomes the biggest casualty of the Australian Open so far. Last yearâs beaten finalist was soundly beaten by a terrific performance from the German veteran.
Thatâs Siegemundâs first win over a top-10 player at a slam, and first over a top-10 player in three years. Sheâs through to a career-best third round in Melbourne.
Carlos Alcaraz is our next headliner of the day, but before we check in on the Spanish third seed, letâs take a quick spin around the courts.
Qinwen Zheng (5) is in desperate trouble against veteran Laura Siegemund on John Cain Arena. The German will serve for the match at 5-3 in the second set.
Mirra Andreeva (14) is also struggling, on the verge of defeat to Moyuka Uchijima.
Karolina Muchova (20) has raced to a 4-0 lead over Naomi Osaka.
Reilly Opelka and Tomas Machac (26) are locked at one set apiece on serve in the third.
Watching Sabalenkaâs determination today reminded me of an interview she gave here in Melbourne back in 2019. At the time she had only just grazed the top ten of the WTA Rankings, and was still two years away from reach a quarter-final at a slam, but her confidence and ambition were sky high, unabashed at declaring she wanted a calendar year grand slam on her CV. If she can figure out clay and grass, itâs hers for the taking.
Aryna Sabalenka (1) beats Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3 7-5
The best hardcourt player on the circuit continues her incredible run at the Australian Open but she didnât have it all her own way against the world No 54. But from 1-4 down in the second set she dug deep to turn the tide and slug her way into the third round where she will face Denmarkâs Clara Tauson.
Bouzas Maneiro can leave with her head held high. She played aggressively throughout, especially against the Sabalenka serve, crafting proactive points and committing to her shots despite the occasion.
Two double faults from Bouzas Maneiro and her spirited effort is beginning to fade against the world number one. Sabalenka will serve for a place in round three.
Sabalenka holds immediately after breaking to claw her way back from 1-4 to 5-5 in the second set. Bouzas Maneiro will rue failing to serve out the set when she had the opportunity, her aggression dipping a little, coinciding with Sabalenka asserting her power from the baseline. The Spaniard will do well now to resist the Belorussianâs momentum.
Jonathan Howcroft
Thank you very much Martin. What a spectacular day of tennis this is. The scheduling has so far been lopsided, favouring the even days, like this, where we get to enjoy Sabalenka, then Alcaraz, Djokovic, and Gauff, all in quick succession.
My attention will remain on the womenâs number one seed, for now, who has just broken back against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, but remains in a second set dogfight.
Jonathan Howcroft will take the reins for the next few hours but here is the current state of play in the main singles matches across Melbourne Park.
Laura Siegemund leads Qinwen Zheng (7) by 7-6(3), 2-0 on JCA.
Tomas Machac has fought back to take the second set in a tie-breaker in a suddenly even contest with Reilly Opelka. The score for the American stands at 6-3, 6-7(1), 1-1.
And weâre into a deciding set on court 3 as Moyuka Uchijima pulls back the second to make the scoreline 4-6, 6-3, 1-1 against Mirra Andreeva (14).
But the main interest is on RLA where Jessica Bouzas Maneiro is serving to take the second set from Aryna Sabalenka (1) at 5-3.
Jessica Pegula (7) beats Elise Mertens 6-4 6-2
Jessica Pegula is into the third round after easing past Elise Mertens on MCA. The American was able to rely on her generally reliable first serve while drawing just enough errors from Mertens.
The tables have turned on RLA as Jessica Bouzas Maneiro breaks Aryna Sabalenka then holds serve to take a 4-1 lead in the second set. The No 1 seed is still making too many errors but that is due in part to Bouzas Maneiroâs consistency and confidence from the baseline.
Olga DaniloviÄ beats Liudmila Samsonova (25) 6-1 6-2
The first winner of the day is Olga DaniloviÄ as the Serbian takes just 65 minutes to send Liudmila Samsonova packing. Samsonova struggled with her first serve throughout to make another early exit at a tournament that has hardly been her friend across what is now six visits.
After both players had their issues with holding serve in the opening set, Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro start the second set doing just that. The reigning champion serves at 6-3, 1-2.
Olga DaniloviÄ has one foot in the third round as the Serbian leads Liudmila Samsonova 6-1, 5-2. The No 25 seed will serve to stay in the match.
Itâs all heating up on JCA as Laura Siegemund stuns Qinwen Zheng in a tie-breaker. Too many errors proved costly for the No 5 seed as the German veteran wins the first set 7-6(3).
Aryna Sabalenka is hardly having it all her own way but holds serve to win the first set against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3 in 44 minutes. The Belarusian edged the set with 16-9 winners but both players will want to step up their service games from here.
Jessica Pegula claims the first set from Elise Mertens 6-4 on MCA, but there is a tighter contest over on JCA where Qinwen Zheng and Laura Siegemund are heading to a tie-breaker.
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro has put up a brave fight so far on RLA but Aryna Sabalenka is firing now. The Spaniard is serving to stay in the set after the world No 1 pushes out to a 5-2 lead. But can Bouzas Maneiro hold serve for the first time today?
A mini-upset is brewing on Kia Arena as Olga DaniloviÄ wins the first set against Liudmila Samsonova 6-1 in under half an hour. The No 25 seed has then taken an early 2-1 lead in the second set after immediately breaking the Serbian.
No 14 womenâs seed Mirra Andreeva has taken the first set from Moyuka Uchijima 6-4. The teenagerâs serve is up and running with five aces to none in the first set while Andreeva is also on top 16-6 for winners.
Neither player can hold serve in a somewhat surprisingly tense encounter on RLA. Bouzas Maneiro again takes Sabalenka to deuce but this time takes to game quickly off an error from the world No 1 then a forehand winner by the Spaniard. Much of this match is being decided by whether or not Sabalenka lands her shots though. Sabalenka leads the first set 3-2 with Bouzas Maneiro to serve.
Over on 1573 Arena, and Reilly Opelka has taken only 25 minutes to claim the first set from Tomas Machac 6-3. The American sent down nine aces and hit a top speed of 219km/h to win 18/20 first serves in a blistering start.
Aryna Sabalenka breaks Jessica Bouzas Maneiro for a second time in as many service games, this time to 15, as the 22-year-old Spaniardâs serve already looms as the main issue against the Belarusian powerhouse.
Aryna Sabalenka breaks Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to 30 at the first attempt but the Spaniard bounces back immediately. Bouzas Maneiro pulls away to a 0-30 lead following a pair of unforced errors from Sabalenka, then takes the game to deuce and four break-back points â the third from a huge confidence booster with a sublime cross-court forehand winner. The world No 54 brings out a backhand winner to finally finish off the game and put the first set back on serve.
Jessica Pegula is up against Elise Mertens on Margaret Court Arena with the first few games quickly going to serve. Mertens leads the No 7 seed 2-1.
Aryna Sabalenka with a typically dominant start as the reigning womenâs single champion holds serve to 15 against Spainâs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.
Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Bouzas Maneiro are finishing their warm-up on RLA with the roof now open in a sign of confidence that the rain has passed. The world No 1 breezed into the second round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Sloane Stephens. Tennis reporter Tumaini Carayol could hardly have been more impressed.
Over the next fortnight, Sabalenka will attempt to become the first woman in 26 years â since Martina Hingis â to win three consecutive Australian Open singles titles. She opened up her title defence in Melbourne with an imperious performance, dismantling the former US Open champion Stephens.
Teenage sensation and No 14 seed Mirra Andreeva is up against Japanâs Moyuka Uchijima on court 3. Uchijima races through the first game to love.
Players are now warming up on the outside courts with the action to get under way shortly. Qinwen Zheng and Laura Siegemund on John Cain Arena has been the only match able start closer to the scheduled 11am, with Chinaâs No 5 seed holding a 2-1 lead in the first set as both players hold serve early.
Now for the weather. Grey skies across southern Victoria have already left some drizzle on Melbourne Park and postponed play starting on the outside courts until 11.30am.
But the worst already seems to have passed to leave us with a muggy, overcast day but hopefully no further interruptions.
We hope you donât venture too far from the Guardianâs inimitable Australian Open blog but will understand if you want to pop out for a sneak peek at AO Animated.
Our reporter on the ground at Melbourne Park, Jack Snape, describes AO Animated as ânear-live, commentated coverage of the Australian Open, free to anyone across the world via YouTube, enhanced via a stream of comments from a like-minded online communityâ.
It was a special night for tennisâs glamour couple as Australiaâs Alex De Minaur brushed aside Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 in 142 minutes all while having one eye on the score at the neighbouring Kia Arena. De Minaurâs fiancé, Katie Boulter, had to work harder to progress to the second round but eventually sealed her place in Australian Open history for Great Britain.
You want to be focusing on your own match, then all of a sudden you see the results of Katieâs match,â De Minaur said. âYou try not to pay too much attention and focus on yourself, but the sheer fact that itâs always coming around, it makes it difficult.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of day four at the 2025 Australian Open. The action has just started on the outside courts at Melbourne Park with one of the biggest names in the game set to kick off on the show courts at 11:30am.
The spotlight will firstly be on two-time defending champion and world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka up against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Rod Laver Arena, with Novak Djokovic to follow against Jaime Faria on the same court.
As the second round of the singles gets under way, here are some of the matches weâll be keeping an eye on during the day session:
11.30am: Aryna Sabalenka (1) v Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
11.30am: Jessica Pegula (3) v Elise Mertens
1pm: Carlos Alcaraz (3) v Yoshihito Nishioka
1pm: Jordan Thompson (27) v Nuno Borges
1pm: Naomi Osaka v Karolina Muchova (20)
2pm: Novak Djokovic (7) v Jaime Faria
There will also be plenty of Australians in action throughout the day starting with Jordan Thompson and Ajla Tomljanovic, as well as Aleksandar Vukic, Talia Gibson and James Duckworth. Thanasi Kokkinakis will be part of the night session with a testing match-up against Great Britainâs great hope Jack Draper.
Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka, defending Wimbledon and French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, No 3 womenâs seed Coco Gauff, and No 2 menâs seed Alexander Zverev will also be on show on a blockbuster day four.
Iâll be with you for the first couple of hours with Jonathan Howcroft to take the reins for the bulk of the afternoon. Let me know your thoughts and predictions on email or @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Letâs get into it!