A vintage Novak Djokovic tamed Carlos Alcaraz in a late-night blockbuster to set up anAustralianOpensemi-final with Alexander Zverev as two-time women's defending champion Aryna Sabalenka fought on.

Coco Gauff moved into the fourth round at Melbourne Park with a straightforward victory over Leylah Fernandez.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame a wobbly display to reach the Australian Open fourth round while Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz were at their dazzling best on a warm but windy Friday at Melbourne Park.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka swept into the quarter-finals at a scorching-hot Australian Open on Sunday and was joined by Coco Gauff, while Carlos Alcaraz advanced when Jack Draper retired.

Naomi Osaka, a two-time champion in Australia, stopped playing because of a strained abdominal muscle after dropping the first set of her match against Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic.

Elsewhere, in the men's draw, American 12th seed Tommy Paul will take on Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, while German second seed Alexander Zverev faces French 14th seed Ugo Humbert. The winners of these matches will advance to the semi-finals.

A vintage Novak Djokovic tamed Carlos Alcaraz in a late-night blockbuster to set up an Australian Open semifinal with Alexander Zverev as two-time women’s defending champion Aryna Sabalenka fought on.

Djokovic, who is eyeing a record 25th Grand Slam title and 11th at his happiest hunting ground, delighted fans with a 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory over 21-year-old French Open and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz to end his ambitious career Grand Slam bid.

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are going toe-to-toe after Aryna Sabalenka won through to yet another Melbourne Park semi-final.

The top brass of world tennis returned to the status quo on day eight of the Australian Open, with the big names picking up wins.

While there have been plenty of surprises in the men’s bracket so far, most of the top women have progressed through the draw without an issue.