Australian Open 2023 order of play, Day 9 – Jessica Pegula v Victoria Azarenka, Jelena Ostapenko v Elena Rybakina

It’s quarter-final time on Day 9 at the 2023 Australian Open on January 24.

The title is almost in sight for the eight players left in the men’s and women’s singles draws, with just three more wins needed to lift the trophy.

Victoria Azarenka, Jelena Ostapenko and Elena Rybakina all continue their quest to win another Grand Slam title while world No. 3 Jessica Pegula has her sights on her maiden major. On the men’s side, Stefanos Tsitsipas looks the favourite to make the final from the top half, but will there be more upsets?

Top match I – Victoria Azarenka v Jessica Pegula

This one could be a doozy.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is looking for a third title in Melbourne and has been impressive so far. She has said that Jessica Pegula is a “great friend” and there won’t be “any surprises” in their quarter-final as they practice together.

Pegula is into her third straight quarter-final in Melbourne, and fifth across the four majors, but she has not yet made a semi-final. After Iga Swiatek’s defeat it appears Pegula is the favourite for the title, but even though she has not yet dropped a set this should be a tough test of her credentials.

Pegula won in straight sets when she last faced Azarenka in Guadalajara in October.

Top match II – Jelena Ostapenko v Elena Rybakina

After pulling off upset wins in the fourth round, will it be Jelena Ostapenko or Elena Rybakina who makes the semi-finals?

Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion who is into her first Grand Slam quarter-final since Wimbledon 2018, showed off her powerful hitting as she beat seventh seed Coco Gauff in her last match.

Ostapenko hit 30 winners against Gauff, but Rybakina also has a big game and has hit the third-most aces (24) among women at the 2023 Australian Open. Rybakina was impressive in knocking out world No. 1 Swiatek in the fourth round but has lost both previous matches against Ostapenko.

Top match III – Karen Khachanov v Sebastian Korda

Karen Khachanov was mightily impressive in the fourth round as he didn’t lose a game in the first two sets against Yoshihito Nishioka. He is aiming for his second straight Grand Slam semi-final.

Sebastian Korda is playing in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time and has come through a tricky draw, beating last year’s runner-up Daniil Medvedev in straight sets and then overcoming 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz in five sets.

Korda’s father, Petr, won the Australian Open 25 years ago.

Brit watch

There’s a British clash in the mixed doubles as Neal Skupski and Desirae Krawczyk face Jamie Murray and Taylor Townsend.

Alfie Hewitt and Gordon Reid play in the first round of the wheelchair singles along with Ben Bartram and Lucy Shuker. Andy Lapthorne plays in the quarter-finals of the quad wheelchair singles.

Show Courts Order of Play – Tuesday January 24 (All UK times)

Rod Laver Arena

Day session (from 00:00)

• John-Patrick Smith & Lizette Cabrera [WC] v Luisa Stefani & Rafael Matos
• Elena Rybakina [22] v Jelena Ostapenko [17]
• Karen Khachanov [18] v Sebastian Korda [29]

Night session (from 08:00)

• Jessica Pegula [3] v Victoria Azarenka [24]
• Stefanos Tsitsipas [3] v Jiri Lehecka

Margaret Court Arena (Play from 00:00)

• Martin de la Puente v Ben Weekes [WC] (Men’s wheelchair singles)
• Aniek van Koot [3] v Angelica Bernal (Women’s wheelchair singles)
• Caroline Dolehide & Anna Kalinskaya v Gabriela Dabrowski & Giuliana Olmos [3]
• Niels Vink [1] v Ymanitu Silva (Quad wheelchair singles)
• Jelena Ostapenko & David Vega Hernandez v Rohan Bopanna & Sania Mirza

Other matches

Neal Skupski & Desirae Krawczyk [3] v Jamie Murray & Taylor Townsend (Court 3, fifth match)

Alfie Hewitt [1] v Daisuke Arai (Court 8, first match) (Men’s wheelchair singles)

Gordon Reid v Tom Egberink (Court 5, first match) (Men’s wheelchair singles)

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