Australian Open 2025 LIVE: Latest results and set-by-set updates as serious concerns rise for Novak Djokovic ahead of semi-final clash as besties Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa prepare to put friendship aside

Good afternoon and some news just in at Melbourne Park for you.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has hit out at any potential plans for protesters to disrupt the men’s singles final at the Australian Open on Sunday afternoon.

It comes as rumours have been circling around the tennis precinct in days that some Australia Day protesters were planning to disrupt proceedings on Sunday, January 26.

Protests have been planned for Melbourne’s CBD, but organisers have claimed there is no plan to make their way to Melbourne Park and will follow the same route that has been used in the past.

Ms Allan, though, branded any attempts to cause trouble at the tennis ‘disgusting’ before adding that a large police presence will be seen around the city and the tennis precinct in order to control crowds.

Approximately 30,000 people are expected to take to the streets on Australia Day amid the protests.

Ms Allan called on all parties to show respect, no matter their stance on Australia Day.

‘I think we can all find space in our hearts to respect that, to understand that,’ the Premier said.

‘Respect also goes both ways. We’ve got to make sure that for those who want to acknowledge the day in their own way have the space to do that.’

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While it may be an awkward one for the pair, considering their strong friendship, playing against each other is not something that will be new for Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa.

The pair have played each other seven times during their careers, with Sabalenka winning five of those matches.

Their most recent match came in the round of 32 at Roland Garros, with Sabalenka securing victory against Badosa before the Belarusian was knocked out at the quarter-finals.

But it’s Badosa who takes the lead, holding service in the first game, while saving a break point against the world No 1.

Only a slight head nod between Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa as they stand in the tunnel, ready to step out onto court.

But both look absolutely in the zone here, despite being best friends.

The first women’s semi-final is less than 10 minutes away!

Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa have long been close friends. And tonight will not be the first time they will have gone head-to-head on the tennis court.

The pair are set to go up against each other in about 10 minutes time at the Rod Laver Arena and I’ve just seen Badosa and her boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas backstage at Melbourne Park sharing a quick hug.

Sabalenka and Badosa, though, first formed a bond after facing each other for the first time back at the 2021 Cincinnati Masters.

And even amid their rivalry, the pair have gone on to brand themselves ‘soulmates’ with the duo regularly being spotted away from the court together attending events and going out for dinner.

Sabalenka has even expressed her gratitude to have a friend like Badosa on the tennis circuit.

‘It is very difficult. It doesn’t happen very often that you can find your soulmate on the circuit because we compete against each other. But we had this deal: on the court we are opponents, we can shout whatever we want, but off the court we are friends again,’ Aryna Sabalenka said (via puntodebreak).

Read more about their friendship here!

So we have got a jam-packed evening coming for you tonight with the women’s semi-finals set to get underway at around 7:30pm AEDT (8:30am GMT).

Defending Australian Open Aryna Sabalenka and her close friend Paula Badosa will go head-to-head in a huge match that will see their friendship tested.

After that, American star Madison Keys will look to secure her passage to the women’s singles final. But in her way stands five-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, who sensationally is yet to drop a set at the tournament so far.

The players are in the house and we’ll be getting underway in the next 30 minutes.

An update, of sorts, on Novak Djokovic’s fitness. After a suspected hamstring injury in his quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz, he admitted he was ‘concerned’. He was not on site on Wednesday and after being down to practice today at 2pm his name suddenly disappeared off the schedule, raising fears over his fitness.

We have been told he did not practice at Melbourne Park and, while it is possible he has hit off-site somewhere, it is likely he has given his injury two full days of rest.

The Serb is down to practice at 1pm tomorrow before facing Alexander Zverev at 2.30pm.

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley said in the week that the tournament will have a strong Australia Day presence on Sunday.

The men’s singles finals will take place on Sunday, with Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev all gunning for a place in the showpiece event.

‘I’m proud of the fact that we are an event that always has been and always will be inclusive, diverse and offer equal opportunity for all,’ he said.

‘You will see the welcoming and the recognition of the Australian of the Year, on-court green and gold, the Australian flag as well.

‘We will have pre-ceremonies and special guests which we are going to announce and the Australian national anthem.

‘Australia Day does this year fall on the final day of the event, and so we anticipate to have a recognition.’

But some have hit out at the plans, including former Australian tennis star Sam Groth, who called for ‘more than just flags and the national anthem.’

Groth, 37, retired in 2018 but now works as the deputy leader of the Victorian Liberal Party.

‘[It] would absolutely be more appropriate to have something more major than just the flags, and…singing the national anthem,’ he said.

‘Yes, we can acknowledge some of the flaws of our country, but give those that want to celebrate, that come on site, the opportunity to.’

In the past, Tennis Australia has removed formal recognition of the national day, amid a push to change its date.

‘We are mindful there are differing views, and at the Australian Open we are inclusive and respectful of all,’ a Tennis Australia spokesperson had previously said.

‘We acknowledge the historical significance and deep spiritual connection our First Peoples have to this land, and recognise this with a Welcome to Country on stadium screens prior to both the day and night session daily.’