The first men’s semifinal is underway, featuring two players who have a fair history together in the game.

Number two-seed Grigor Dimitrov is the current world number 10 and defending champion in Brisbane.

He’s looking to join luminaries such as Radek Štěpánek, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Milos Raonic in reaching back-to-back finals.

He has already appeared in the final on three separate occasions.

Jiří Lehečka is looking for back-to-back titles in Australia following his victory at the Adelaide International last year – his maiden ATP crown.

The 23-year-old Czech has got a game that is not all that easy for Dimitrov to handle – he’s won their last two encounters for a 2-1 overall head-to-head record.

In Adelaide, Ajla Tomljanović has lost in the qualifying rounds.

Tomljanović fell to Ashlyn Krueger, with the American winning 7-5, 6-4.

We’ve just been speaking to Brisbane International finalist Polina Kudermetova following her semifinal victory a short time ago.

“I’m so happy for this big tournament and my first
final,” she said.

“I’m so excited what I will do good work for this
week.”

She praised the work her coach had done with her over the last year and was looking forward to continuing to progress through the rankings.

“When I was coming to Australia, I say for my coach, ‘hopefully I will win the quallies, the first one,” she said with a broad smile.

“Then I say when I was winning the quallies, I say let’s try to win one game, I will be happy’.

“Then he all the time tell me, just play for your match, what you were doing, your work on the practice [court] and you will be win the match.”

Having already sealed a spot in the final, Poland has completed a 3-0 sweep against Kazakhstan in the opening Sydney semi.

Polish pair Maja Chwalińska and Jan Zieliński defeated Kazakhs Zhibek Kulambayeva and Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 6-1.

The second semifinal between the US and Czechia will be contested this evening.

Congratulations to Japan’s Aoi Ito after she won the Canberra International.

Ito, who was seeded seventh in the national capital, defeated China’s Wei Sijia 6-4, 6-3 in the final.

The win hands Ito her first WTA Tour singles title.

It should see the 20-year-old enjoy a rankings bump from the career-best 126 she currently holds.

Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović is looking to come through qualifying to reach the Adelaide International main draw.

She’s on court at the moment against American Ashlyn Krueger, who won the first 7-5.

Krueger played at the Brisbane International as recently as yesterday.

The American lost her Brisbane quarterfinal to Polina Kudermetova, who has since made the tournament decider.

Another player who made the rush to get to Adelaide from Brisbane was Marie Bouzková.

Bouzková was on Pat Rafter Arena last night when she faced Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals.

After going down in straight sets to the world number one, Bouzková has her back to the wall against Australia’s Gabriella Da Silva Fick in Adelaide.

Da Silva Fick won the first set 6-2.

I’ve just been out around the courts and watched Jiří Lehečka going through his paces ahead of the next match on Pat Rafter Arena, which is due to start in an hour’s time at 3:00pm AEST.

He was cracking the ball back over the net so hard it sounded like he was cracking a whip, working up a serious sweat in the process.

Does he fancy himself against defending champion Grigor Dimitrov? He probably should.

There is a trophy up for grabs in the national capital, with the Canberra International final underway.

Japan’s Aoi Ito claimed the first set against China’s Wei Sijia 6-4.

Neither Ito or Wei have won a WTA Tour singles title.

An update from across the Tasman …

Denmark’s Clara Tauson has defeated Robin Montgomery of the US to qualify for the final.

Fifth-seeded Tauson triumphed 6-4, 6-3.

Tauson will chase her third WTA Tour title in Sunday’s final against either former world number one Naomi Osaka or American Alycia Parks.

The Dane had to play twice on Saturday, as her quarterfinal against Madison Keys was suspended overnight.

Qualifier Polina Kudermetova has achieved a major career milestone by reaching her first WTA Tour singles final.

The 21-year-old was impressive in defeating Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 24 minutes on Pat Rafter Arena.

Kudermetova is ranked 107 in the world and has only played in the main draw at a major twice.

She will face either world number one Aryna Sabalenka or gun 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva in Sunday’s final.

Iga Świątek has guaranteed Poland safe passage through to the United Cup final.

Świątek gave the Poles an unassailable 2-0 lead in the semi against Kazakhstan with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 defeat of Elena Rybakina in Sydney.

It was a high-quality match lasting two hours and four minutes, illustrating why these two will be among the contenders at the Australian Open.

Poland will play the winner of the second semifinal between the US and Czechia.

It was a topsy-turvy finish to the first set, but Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova is on top against Anhelina Kalinina.

Kudermetova won the first 6-4, but received treatment on her right serving arm during a medical timeout at the change of ends.

Anhelina Kalinina had reached the semifinals after defeating Australia’s Kimberly Birrell in three sets on Friday.

G’day Natty and welcome to all our readers joining our coverage!

Alycia Parks has emerged triumphant in her quarterfinal against fellow American Katie Volynets.

Parks won 6-1, 6-4 to advance to a semifinal meeting with seventh seed Naomi Osaka.

Meanwhile in the semifinals, Fifth-seeded Dane Clara Tauson leads her US opponent Robin Montgomery 5-2 in the first set.

Nicely played by Iga Świątek, who takes the first set in that tie breaker 7-5.

Both women are serving in the mid 60 per cent range, but Świątek is getting more out of her second serve than Rybakina so far.

I agree, MB. It’s fantastic to see him back on form. With his physical attributes he is sure to be a devastating proposition for anyone, as long as his fitness holds which, given he’s been out for so long, is no guarantee.

And it does make tonight’s match really interesting.

I have a sneaky that Opelka is the better all round player.

Mpetshi Perricard is undoubtedly a stunning server – his performances to reach this semi-final have been sensational.

But I saw him playing doubles the other day and his serve is not unstoppable by any stretch and, if Opelka can maintain the form he showed last night, then that gives him the edge for mine.

I am really looking forward to it though.

There is a roof on Pat Rafter Arena, albeit one that has plenty of gaps around it.

And that’s a good thing at the moment because all of a sudden it has started hammering down with rain.

The fact there are gaps in the roof means that some spray can come onto the court, which would mean the towels will need to be used.

Hopefully it doesn’t last, because it was beautiful earlier…

This first set is going all the way down in Sydney.

Rybakina managed to save five break points, but both women were broken once in that first set.

Looking ahead quickly to our first semi-final on the WTA500 tournament, and it’s a fairytale story against a woman looking to take the next step in her career.

Polina Kudermetova is ranked 107th in the world and has had to come through qualifying to reach what is her second WTA500 semi-final.

The Russian 21-year-old is on a six-match winning streak after winning through qualifying, and is perhaps more tellingly on a seven-match winning streak against players in the top 100.

Anhelina Kalinina is ranked 56th in the world and is looking to make her third singles final on the WTA Tour.

The Ukrainian player was not beaten by a player outside of the top 100 in 2024 and accounted for Kim Birrell in yesterday’s quarter-final, so if you wanted to relive that, you can check it out below.

In Sydney, former world number six Hubert Hurkacz has given Poland a perfect start against Kazakhstan, beating Alexander Shevchenko in straight sets 6-3,6-2.

The women’s singles match could get quite tasty.

Current world number six Elena Rybakina will be looking to level the tie against world number two Iga Świątek.

Rybakina holds a 4-2 career advantage over the former world number one, with the pair sharing their two meetings last year, with Świątek winning in Doha and Rybakina in Stuttgart.

 Rybakina won their last Australian Open meeting, back in 2023, 6-4, 6-4.