In a tougher-than-expected match, Aryna Sabalenka beat Clara Tauson 7-6 (5), 6-4 in a poor serving display by both players to open the sixth day of play on Rod Laver Arena.

By Shrivathsa Sridhar MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame a wobbly display to reach the Australian Open fourth round while Carlos Alcaraz was at his dazzling best despite a blip as warm and windy weather tested the composure of players on Friday.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka navigated challenges to reach the Australian Open fourth round, while Carlos Alcaraz advanced despite a set loss. Coco Gauff secured a victory, and Naomi Osaka withdrew due to injury.

The sixth day of the Australian Open saw Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova advance to the fourth round. Aryna Sabalenka, Clara Tauson, Naomi Osaka, and Belinda Bencic competed on the prestigious Rod Laver Arena.

Naomi Osaka, a two-time champion in Australia, stopped playing because of a strained abdominal muscle after dropping the first set of her match against Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic.

Australian Open: Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was pushed to the limit while Carlos Alcaraz ... while Carlos Alcaraz dropped a set before surging into the last 16. Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka hits a return against Denmark's Clara Tauson during their ...

Melbourne: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz can set up a blockbuster quarter-final when the Australian Open enters the fourth round on Sunday while Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff are also eyeing

Badosa won 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in 2 hours and 32 minutes, to equal her best performance at the Australian Open by qualifying for the final 16. The last time Badosa made the fourth round of the Australian Open was back in 2022, where she lost to American Madison Keys.

33-year-old Pavlyuchenkova did well to reach the QFs of the Australian Open this year and equalized with Sabalenka at the end of the second set. However, she was unable to upset the Belarusian, who is eyeing a hattrick of AO title wins this year.

Men’s winners in third-round action included No. 2 Alexander Zverev, No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, No. 7 Novak Djokovic ... winning streak at the tournament to 17 matches by eliminating Clara Tauson 7-6 (5), 6-4 on Friday. Like Gauff, Sabalenka is unbeaten ...

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame a wobbly display to reach the Australian Open fourth round while Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz were a

Novak Djokovic overcame injury and losing the opening set in a brilliant victory over Carlos Alcaraz ... five times in a straight-sets win over Clara Tauson. She spent most of the second set ...