But that’s about all that’s needed from me this arvo.I’ve been Joey Lynch been a lot of fun bringing you all the updates as Aryna Sabalenka (1) and Alexander Zverev (3) moved into the final four here at a sweltering Australian Open.Be sure to check back in here at the Guardian for all the updates from the evening sessions.Toodles.Tien exits Rod Laver Arena to rapturous cheers from the crowd.

Always one to love the underdog, the fans in Melbourne rallied around Tien as the contest wore on and it looked like he was pushing for an upset with his fine play on the baseline.Baseline play seal of approval from Zverev, to Learner 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/Ns7n8a5UFRBut in the end, the American went down in just over three hours; mostly because of how dominant Zverev’s serve was.The German fired down 24 aces over the four sets, while landing 72% of his first serves and winning 76% of those points.

His double fault in the fourth set tiebreak, meanwhile, was his first and only one of the game, compared to the nine committed by Tien.Zverev’s quest for a first-ever Grand Slam title will now move into the semifinals, where he’ll face the winner of tonight’s meeting between Alex de Minaur (6) and Carlos Alcaraz (1).Before that, though, Coco Gauff (3) and Elina Svitolina (12) are going to lock horns on Rod Laver Arena for the right to face Aryna Sabalenka (1) in the final four.Alexander Zverev (3) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien (25) Tien serves first in the tiebreak but falls behind an early mini-break, one compounded when Zverev fires down an ace with his first serve and yet another with his second.Oh dear, it’s all starting to come apart for the American at the worst possible moment.

An unforced forehand error sees Tien fall further behind and then Zverev crushes a backhand winner to make it 5-0.Seeing something he doesn’t like in the stands, Zverev pulls out of his serve at first and then faults, but recovers and brings up six match points when Tien commits another unforced error.Perhaps fittingly, though, Tien refuses to go down quietly.Zverev’s first double fault of the entire match keeps him alive at 6-1 and then a powerful ace making it 6-2.An unreturnable serve then makes it 6-3.

He couldn’t, could he?No, he can’t, Zverev’s dominating serve allowing him to crash the net and force Tien to send a high lob over his head that sails beyond the baseline and out.Alexander Zverev* (3) 6-6 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien (25) Zverev steps up, needing a hold to send this one to a tiebreak and takes the first point on an unforced error from Tien.An unforced forehand error on the German’s part levels things and his attempt to serve and volley ends in him slicing a backhand straight into the net to fall behind.Zverev finds the top of the net and the rebound just stays inbounds at the start of a lengthy exchange that ends with Tien firing into the net to make it 30-30.But the German fires a backhand into the net to bring up the chance to break and secure the set!A dominating, unreturnable serve sees off that threat – Zverev not giving up a break in the three he’s faced so far – and the third seed then takes the advantage when he stretches out and bends a backhand drop volley inbound as he gets to the net.

A second backhand drop volley from Zverev, this time with Tien also getting to the net, then secures the game, ensuring we’re off to the second tiebreak of the match,Alexander Zverev (3) 5-6 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien* (25) Tien takes the first three points to retain the initiative and while an unforced error opens the door a crack for Zverev, the American kisses a forehand winner through to hold serve,Alexander Zverev* (3) 5-5 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien (25) Death, taxes, and a Zverev ace,The third seed fires a wide serve straight past Tien to take the first point of a game he needs to keep the fourth set going and then just grazes the top of Tien’s racquet with what was everything but an ace to follow,Two more dominant serves set up an easy hold to love.

Alexander Zverev (3) 4-5 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien* (25) A cheeky little drop shot from Tien, completely catching Zverev off guard after his return, moves him ahead,But the German third seed is able to rally and bring up deuce as he hunts for the break that would open the door to him wrapping this one up in the fourth set,But with the pressure on, Tien responds with an ace and forehand winner,Alexander Zverev* (3) 4-4 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien (25) Tien is able to respond after dropping the first point but Zverev accelerates away from that point, sending down back-to-back aces to grab the hold,Alexander Zverev (3) 3-4 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien* (25) The duo exchange points to start the game off, before the American takes three of the next four to secure the hold.

This set is definitely a lot more like the second, won by Tien in a tiebreak, than the third.Alexander Zverev* (3) 3-3 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien (25) Zverev’s 17th ace of the match moves him ahead and Tien, positioned incredibly deep to return a second serve, fires long to make it 30-0.Tien misjudges Zverev’s direction and watches an ace fly behind him for 40-0 and then watches another serve sail down the T for the hold to love.Zverev now has 19 aces to Tien’s eight, and the German has yet to double fault while the American has done so nine times.Alexander Zverev (3) 2-3 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien* (25) A smart backhand winner gets Zverev on the board – and gives him one for the match (!) – only for Tien to level when he greets a recovery lob with a smashed overhand.

Tien holds at his stomach (an abdominal problem? a stitch?) after giving up the break point but saves it with a big forehand down the line.An ace then delivers the advantage which is converted when he places a second serve in an area Zverev can’t return.Alexander Zverev* (3) 2-2 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien (25) A big cheer from the crowd greets Tien digging out a backhand and firing down the line, followed by polite applause when Zverev smashes an overhand winner to level the game.Excitement builds once again when Tien moves back ahead, only for, somewhat more muted, polite applause to follow when Zverev levels and then moves to 40-30.A 16th ace of the match then secures him the game.

Alexander Zverev (3) 1-2 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien* (25) Tien slices a shot wide to end a seventeen-shot rally and bring it back to 30-30 but his resulting serve sets up him to dink a drop shot over the net.A double fault, however, brings up deuce and ramps the pressure back up once more.Zverev slices a forehand into the baseline to give Tien the advantage and he then secures the hold when Zverev misses long with a tired-looking forehand.The No.2 seeds are semifinal bound 🚀After a slow start, Stefani/Arevalo dominated the rest of the match, winning 2-6 6-4 [10-7].

#AO26 pic.twitter.com/84UF3xL2xKAlexander Zverev* (3) 1-1 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien (25) Zverev takes the first two points but Tien is somehow able to finesse a backhand across the face of the charging German to get on the board.The flash is a brief one, though, as Zverev takes the subsequent two points to hold serve and get on the board in the fourth set.Alexander Zverev (3) 0-1 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 Learner Tien* (25) Tien needs to quickly get back momentum and starts well in this regard: holding to love to start the fourth set.

Sascha mode 🔛Third set goes 6-1 to the German! pic.twitter.com/73DyFr1s1aAlexander Zverev* (3) 6-1 6-3 6-7 (5-7) Learner Tien (25) So, after we got a second-set marathon that lasted over an hour, Zverev has claimed the third set in just about half-an-hour: wrestling back the ascendency and largely silencing the increasingly boisterous support that Tien was developing.After winning just seven across the first two sets, he won nine net points in the third and continued to lean on his first serve, landing 74% of them and winning 86% of the subsequent exchanges.Up the other end, is this danger signs for Tien or did he make a decision to write that set off at some point and focus on the fourth? Whatever was the case, the American didn’t win a single one of his six second serves in that set, which isn’t ideal.

Alexander Zverev (3) 5-1 6-3 6-7 (5-7) Learner Tien* (25) As the match clock ticks over two hours, Tien is clearly trying to push the tempo and play quickly but it’s not working out all that well right now; the American quickly falling behind and giving up three break points, the second of which is seized by Zverev.Alexander Zverev* (3) 4-1 6-3 6-7 (5-7) Learner Tien (25) Zverev falls behind twice but is able to keep his cool and work his way back, consolidating the break with a serve that forces Tien wide and, stretched, unable to send his return inbound.Alexander Zverev (3) 3-1 6-3 6-7 (5-7) Learner Tien* (25) A double fault sees Tien fall behind 15-30 but he promptly sends down an ace to level things.A pattern that repeats on the next pair of points as we move to deuce.We finally get an exchange of shots, one ending with Tien firing a backhand into the net to bring up a break point which is seized when Zverev whips a forehand return into the corner.

Alexander Zverev* (3) 2-1 6-3 6-7 (5-7) Learner Tien (25) No mucking about from Zverev as he holds to love.He’s hitting 75% of his first serves thus far but is in a proper battle with Tien.Alexander Zverev (3) 1-1 6-3 6-7 (5-7) Learner Tien* (25) The crowd has well and truly settled in behind Tien – a cohort of fans in the stands donning L-Plates on their chest to signify their support – and enjoy watching the American get on the board for the first time in the third set.Alexander Zverev* (3) 1-0 6-3 6-7 (5-7) Learner Tien (25) Zverev gets to the net and quickly takes the first point of the third set, a tactic he repeats to induce a long lob that sees him move to 30-0.Tien gets on the board for the first time in the third set but Zverev forges ahead and holds with an ace.

After winning 78% of his second serves in the first set, Zverev only took out 44% in that second set -- something of a pattern emerging wherein Learner, if he’s able to see off the first few shots after Zverev’s big serve, has the initiative.Alexander Zverev (3) 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 Learner Tien (25) Zverev can’t return Tien’s serve down the T but a huge serve-and-forehand as he crashes the net gets him on the board.An almost mirror-image, this time the winner delivered by an overhead, moves the German ahead only for him to be pegged back when an extended baseline exchange concludes with Zverev sending a backhand into the net.A deep baseline forehand from Tien just fails to clear the net and Zverev uses another commanding serve to set the scene for him to move ahead 4-2.The mini-break is immediately returned when a lengthy 18 shot rally ends with Tien getting to a drop shot and then directing a cross-court volley away from Zverev.

After all that drama, though, Zverev comes straight back with another mini-break.And though Tien steadies, it brings up an opportunity for the third seed to serve out the set.But not so fast, my friend! A huge cheer from the crowd rises up as Zverev goes long to move it back to 5-5 and an even greater one rises when Tien spots his opponent getting to the net and launches a magnificent passing shot up the line to bring up set point.We then go level, when Tien tees up a forehand that flashes across the face of Zverev, levelling things.From 5-3 down in the tie break and starring down a mountain to climb to game well and truly on, a remarkable response from the American.

Alexander Zverev* (3) 6-6 6-3 Learner Tien (25) Zverev’s serve gives him a quick point to move ahead 15-0 but Tien constructs and exchange and fire a forehand winner down the baseline to level things,Zverev responds with a big old 206 km/h ace but Tien doesn’t panic and once more restores parity when the third seed sends a forehand long,A serve-and-backhand moves Zverev back ahead and he delivers a 12th ace to take it,We’re off to a tiebreak,Creativity 💯🐨 pic.

twitter,com/HAcqClmZ4eAlexander Zverev (3) 5-6 6-3 Learner Tien* (25) An 11-shot baseline exchange concludes with Zverev slicing a backhand into the net and Tien then moves further ahead with another deft slice that leaves his opponent rooted at the baseline,Zverev gets back on the board only for Tien to rip off the next two points and take it,Neither man has blinked with their serve in this second set, and now the onus falls on Zverev to keep it that way lest he be pegged back to a set apiece,Alexander Zverev* (3) 5-5 6-3 Learner Tien (25) Another big first serve gets Zverev rolling as he seeks to avoid the break that would surrender the second set but Tien pegs him back with a big forehand.

A tenth ace of the match restores the third seed’s advantage, only for it to be surrendered when he gets to the net and misses his attempt to volley across the court.Tien gets to the net as he seeks to bring up break point but Zverev rockets a backhand that Tien can’t return over the net.The pressure on Zverev starts to ramp up when his long backhand brings up deuce but the German’s serves come through once more: delivering back-to-back attempts that Tien can’t return to take the game.Alexander Zverev (3) 4-5 6-3 Learner Tien* (25) The ninth game of the second set commences with both players still searching for a break but with Zverev’s serve on point, there’s a growing sense that it’s Tien that needs to find something new if he’s going to take control of the match.The American fires a shot wide and into the net to surrender the first point of the game but is back level when Zverev sends a forehand into the net.

The 25th seed takes the next two points, the latter won with a big forehand winner up the line, but then watches Zverev return the favour to make it 40-30.Deuce is then secured but a golden chance to bring up break point is blown when Zverev charges the net only to loft a forehand out with most of the court to aim at.Tien then utilises the reprieve to secure the hold.Alexander Zverev* (3) 4-4 6-3 Learner Tien (25) Zverev sends a backhand into the net to open things but responds with a 204 km/h serve Tien can’t return.Tien gets on top of Zverev’s subsequent second serve but commits a frustrating error to fall further behind but Zverev then commits an unforced error of his own when he pushes a forehand out.

Tien then finds an angle as Zverev charges forward and induces an error – the first point Zverev has lot coming to the net today – and brings up break point.Zverev dashes those hopes, however, and brings up deuce with an ace smashed down the T.An extended rally ends with Tien sending a backhand into the net and responding by smashing the top of his racquet into the surface in frustration.But he’s able to channel that anger into a top return of serve and a magnificent drop shot that leaves Zverev scrambling.But here comes that big serve once again, Zverev firing down a wide ace to seize the advantage and then using a forehand winner to take the game.

Alexander Zverev (3) 3-4 6-3 Learner Tien* (25) An hour of match time is brought up as Tien serves, falling behind after hitting a backhand into the net at the end of a 22-shot rally in which both players clipped the net.An unreturnable serve gets Tien back level and he shows the initiative to get to the net and force a wild attempted passing shot to move ahead.Zverev levels but just sends a backhand long to miss out on break point.The German does bring up deuce and pushes Tien but the American is able to force a forehand error to take the advantage and then secures the game with a serve Zverev can’t return.