Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage from the second of the women's matches on Rod Laver Arena today as two-times defending champion Maria Sharapova takes on Sloane Stephens in a repeat of last year's semi-final.

So, the bottom half the draw is almost complete for the quarter-finals. It will be Dominika Cibulkova v Simona Halep and Victoria Azarenka v either Agnieszka Radwanska or Garbine Muguruza. Those last two play last on Rod Laver Arena tonight.

GAME, SET & MATCH - AZARENKA 6-3 6-2 STEPHENS - Stephens brings up just her second break point of the afternoon with a fantastic inside-out forehand winner right on to the side line (confirmed by a hawkeye challenge from Azarenka). The Belarusian saves it though with another booming groundstroke before wrapping up her place in the quarter-finals when Stephens pulls forehand wide across court.

BREAK - AZARENKA 6-3 5-2 STEPHENS - Azarenka opens the game with a blistering backhand down the line. Stephens does brilliantly well to even get to the ball but she can't really do anything with it and Azarenka goes on to break for a second time in this set, a couple of points later, with a forehand winner. The two-times defending champion will serve for the match after the change of ends.

AZARENKA 6-3 4-2 STEPHENS - Azarenka is temporarily thrown off course by a double fault but she recovers well with an ace and another booming forehand winner to seal a hold without having to face a break point. Stephens is going to have to suddenly comee up with something VERY special if she is to change the course of this match now.

AZARENKA 6-3 3-2 STEPHENS - There has been hardly any let up from Azarenka today and she makes another determined foray into the net to produce a forehand winner and earn herself another break point in the process. Stephens saves it with a mix-up 134mph kicker serve out wide. She also saves a second with an inside out forehand winner across court and a third before going on to hold with an angled cross court forehand after waiting for the high ball to drop.

AZARENKA 6-3 3-1 STEPHENS - A shockingly casual sliced backhand return from Stephens is easily sliced away for a drop shot winner by Azarenka. And, although the Belarusian throws in her first forehand unforced error in the game, the world number two goes on to hold with a forehand drive volley winner, which she throws her whole body weight behind.

AZARENKA 6-3 2-1 STEPHENS - Stephens has completely lost her rhythm as she fails to land her attempted backhand down the line and hands Azarenka another break point. Suddenly the American saves it with a world-class forehand down the line and from there she's back with a hold sealed by a smash and drop shot winner.

AZARENKA 6-3 2-0 STEPHENS - Stephens just doesn't pick the Azarenka serve at all and remains rooted to the spot as the Belarusian thumps an ace down the centre of the court to seal a love hold and consolidate the early break.

BREAK - AZARENKA 6-3 1-0 STEPHENS - Ouch! A really soft game from Stephens helps Azarenka break to love to open the second set. The world number two barely had to do anything in that game as Stephens loops a forehand long to concede.

SET - AZARENKA 6-3 STEPHENS - Azarenka throws in a double fault, already her fifth of the match, to help Stephens to 30-all before shrugging off a time violation for taking too long between points and earning herself a set point when Stephens hits long. An almost identical point sees Azarenka seal the set, with 50 minutes on the clock, when the American against sends a forehand long.

AZARENKA 5-3 STEPHENS - Stephens is let off the hook temporarily when Azarenka nets what should be a fairly easy approach shot. It could have been break point but instead it's game point Stephens. And that quickly becomes game Stephens when Azarenka pulls up on a cross court backhand and sends the ball wide with an anguished scream.

AZARENKA 5-2 STEPHENS - Stephens accidentally hits Azarenka with the ball after the Belarusian stays up at the net following a drop shot. The American attempts to apologise (and eventually does so verbally) but Azarenka refuses to look at her. Two points later and Azarenka thumps the ball right at Stephens. No apology from Azarenka but Stephens just grins and applauds her opponent. In amidst all that spicy drama, Azarenka holds and Stephens will have to serve to stay in this opening set.

AZARENKA 4-2 STEPHENS - Stephens shoots a worried look back to her coach, Paul Annacone, as she quickly finds herself another three break points down. She saves the first when Azarenka flings herself at a forehand volley only for the ball to drop just long. The second also goes astray as Azarenka hits long and then the third when she sends a backhand wide down the line. Azarenka also squanders a fourth and a fifth and Stephens goes on to hold with a forehand winner down the line.

AZARENKA 4-1 STEPHENS - An important winner from Stephens to settle her nerves, belting a backhand down the line at pace. A really odd game from Azarenka too as she slaps down two double faults, she already has three for the match, and the American goes on to earn herself a break back point with a cross court forehand and then forehand winner dwn the line. Azarenka saves it though before going on to hold by getting Stephens on the run, eventually finding a forehand drive volley winner.

BREAK - AZARENKA 3-1 STEPHENS - All of a sudden Stephens throws in a poor game and slaps a forehand into the net to gift Azarenka three break points. A much better backhand down the line saves the first for Stephens. But a high backhand into the net on the second from Stephens sees Azarenka seal the early break. It's a clear tactic from Azarenka, to target the Stephens backhand, and so far it appears to be working well.

AZARENKA 2-1 STEPHENS - Three service games, no break points as Azarenka holds to 15 with another big serve that Stephens can only return into the net. Both players have made positive starts, despite Azarenka's one dropped point in that game being a shockingly poor drop shot that Stephens easily got up to, to put away for a winner.

AZARENKA 1-1 STEPHENS - Great work from Stephens as she gets Azarenka moving and draws the error from the Belarusian, a netted forehand to bring up game point. The American then goes on the run herself and seals the game with a trip to the net and a cross court forehand winner.