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.

Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff are some of the prominent players who will be in action on the sixth day in Melbourne.

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.

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

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 ...

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.

Having stormed through to the opening two rounds of Australian Open 2025 without dropping a set, Carlos Alcaraz will be confident of a win against WR 36 Nuno Borges.

Elsewhere at Melbourne Park, Russian 12th seed Diana Shnaider has levelled her match one-set all against Croatian Donna Vekic on Margaret Court Arena - 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3) - while 11th-seeded Spaniard Paula Badosa took the first set 6-4 against Marta Kostyuk, of Ukraine, but is trailling 0-4 in the second set.

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

Lone Aussie Aleksandar Vukic takes on Brit Jack Draper after doubles walkover when Special Ks bowed out injured.