Hello and welcome to this women's quarter-final between world number one, and defending champion, Victoria Azarenka and unseeded Svetlana Kuznetsova.

So defending champion Victoria Azarenka is through to the semi-finals where she awaits the winner between Serena Williams and Sloane Stephens, who will be in action next on Rod Laver Arena

AZARENKA 7-5 6-1 - GAME, SET & MATCH! Kuznetsova just ran out of steam in that match, which is inevitable after six months ofd the tour, and she sends an agressive forehand long of the baseline to help Azarenka seal the match at the first attempt

AZARENKA 7-5 5-1 - Kuznetsova denies Azarenka on a first game point with a great backhand to end a cross court exchange and the Belarusian squanders a second with a double fault. Out of nowhere Kuznetsova has leveled at deuce. But a backhand return of serve long from the Russian hands Azarenka another game point and this time she holds with an ace down the centre of the court. Kuznetsova will have to serve to stay in this match...

AZARENKA 7-5 4-1 - BREAK! An ace serves the break point but Azarenka will have a third chance after a blistering backhand return of serve that lands right on the line and that Kuznetsova just cannot get a racquet to. And this time the Belarusian does secure the double break, Kuznetsova double faulting to concede

There is no doubt Kuznetsova cannot quite leap up to her serve as well as she was in the first half but she does well to save another break point with a trip into the net and a smash winner. She goes on to earn herself a game point with a sublime forehand passing shot winner whipped across court on the angle but she is forced to face another break point after putting a forehand into the net...

AZARENKA 7-5 3-1 - No mistakes from Azarenka this time as she consolidates the break with a great service hold that continues to force Kuznetsova around the baseline - the Russian unable to throw herself into the slides that she was producing in the first set

AZARENKA 7-5 2-1 - BREAK! Just a slight hesitation from Kuznetsova before she goes for a forehand down the line after a great forehand across court. And she hits it into the net as a result, handing Azarenka two points to re-estbalish her break lead in this second set. Only one is needed though, Kuznetsova going for the huge backhand winner down the line and instead firing the ball long

AZARENKA 7-5 1-1 - BREAK! No sign of Kuznetsova calling for the trainer yet but she is left doubled over in pain after the opening point of the game. But she will be even more dangerous is her movement is restricted - something she proves with a blistering backhand winner down the line. She goes on to earn herself two break points and although Azarenka saves the first, the Belarusian does concede the break back when she sends a cross court backhand wide

AZARENKA 7-5 1-0 - BREAK! Not a great start to the set from Kuznetsova as she slaps down a double fault to help Azarenka to early break points. But it is a stumble after the second serve of that double fault that is more worrying for the Russian as she rolls her right ankle, the same leg she had all that time out with the knee injury last year, and she slaps a forehand into the net to concede her serve. There's a real grimace from the Russian as she changes ends as well - this does not look good

Phew! That was an incredibly tough opening set that lasted 77 minutes before the world number one could wrap things up. 77 minutes, by the way, is 11 minutes longer than Maria Sharapova's entire quarter-final against Ekaterina Makarova yesterday!

AZARENKA 7-5 - SET! Kuznetsova emphatically (frustratedly) buries a smash winner into the court to keep the pressure on Azarenka at 15-15 and then also finds a blistering forehand winner down the line at full stretch to level at 30-30. Twice the Russian denies Azarenka on set points to level at deuce but she sends a off-forehand just marginally wide to hand the world number one a third chance and this time she wraps it when Kuznetsova slices a backhand into the net.

AZARENKA 6-5 - BREAK! The world number one is timing her returns beautifully in this game as she batters a backhand for a winner to bring up two more break points. But she only needs the one, finding a shorter angled forehand across court despite Kuznetsova upping the decibel level! Azarenka will now serve for the opening set

AZARENKA 5-5 - Again Azarenka fails to take advantage but she eventually gets it done at the fourth attempt after another huge serve. After just over an hour on court, there is absolutely nothing to chose between these two players!

Absolutely beautiful shots from both players now; Kuznetsova leveling up at 30-30 with a blistering angled forehand winner across court before Azarenka earns herself a game point by rattling a backhand winner down the line. Kuznetsova goes on to level at deuce with a delicate sliced backhand drop shot winner before a diving forehand volley winner earns the Belarusian a second game point...

AZARENKA 4-5 - A very steady hold to 15 from Kuznetsova, Azarenka failing to deal with a dipping backhand from the Russian and volleying into the net. The world number one will have to serve to stay in this opening set after the change of ends

AZARENKA 4-4 - Loud grunts from both players prompt much mirth in the crowd. But the increased noise from Kuznetsova pays dividends as she rattles a forehand winner down the line to level up at deuce on the Azarenka serve. But the Belarusian steadies the ship with a couple of great ground-strokes one of which even on the splits cannot reach

AZARENKA 3-4 - BREAK! Since being warned about taking too much time, Azarenka has been like a woman on a mission, putting huge pressure on the Kuznetsova serve. And she is rewarded for it too - breaking to get things back on level terms when the Russian slaps down a double fault, a direct result of Azarenka applying the pressure to the second serve earlier in the game

AZARENKA 2-4 - The world number one is on the cusp of of a time violation after being asked by umpire Enrique Molina during the change of ends to hurry things up between points. She doesn't let that rattle her though as she holds to 30, despite slapping down a double fault at 40-0 up

AZARENKA 1-4 - Two absolutely huge forehand returns of serve from Azarenka on consecutive points and go for winners to allow the Belarusian to level up at deuce, after the Russian looked like she was going to cruise to an easy hold. But Kuznsetsova recovers with a couple of huge second serves and goes on to hold with a little trip into the net. She has the hold that cements the break

AZARENKA 1-3 - BREAK! Kuznetsova earns herself a second chance to break, with a dipping sliced forehand that Azarenka can only volley into the net. And this time the Russian does secure the break, Azarenka hitting long down the line to concede her serve. The first four games of this match have taken a whopping 33 minutes!