Two-time defending champion Sabalenka is within the fourth spherical on the Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia — It wasn’t normally fairly, however two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka prolonged a couple of strokes on Friday when she turned one of many first gamers to advance to the fourth spherical of the year-opening Grand Slam match.

In a tougher-than-expected match, Sabalenka beat Clara Tauson 7-6 (5), 6-4 in a tough match by each gamers to open the sixth day of play at Rod Laver Enviornment. It was Sabalenka’s eighth straight win to start out the season after successful the Brisbane Worldwide 10 days in the past, and her seventeenth straight win at Melbourne Park.

Additionally, it has been nearly three years – for the reason that 2022 French Open – that top-ranked Sabalenka has did not advance previous the third spherical of any Grand Slam match she has performed in.

Each gamers misplaced their first three service video games, and it was seven consecutive breaks when Sabalenka misplaced her fourth service recreation at love. After Tauson fired a cross-court shot to arrange a break level, Sabalenka managed a wry smile.

Tauson ultimately held a service recreation to guide 5-3 and Sabalenka additionally received her service recreation to remain within the first set. However it’s no shock – the Danish participant misplaced his serve whereas serving for the primary time to go away it at 5-5, ultimately going to a tiebreaker that Sabalenka received regardless of main 4-1, taking the opening set in 63 minutes.

“The situations are actually tough to work in, tough situations,” mentioned Sabalenka. “It was actually essential to get all these breaks again. It may go both manner.”

Sabalanka broke Tauson within the third recreation of the second set and from there the percentages have been in Sabalenka’s favor – when Sabalenka will get a break early within the set, she wins it 88% of the time. However he nonetheless wanted a break after seven deuces within the ninth recreation to take management and serve out the match – after saving two break factors within the closing recreation.

“That was an amazing battle, he performed unbelievable tennis,” Sabalenka mentioned. “I’m very blissful that I used to be capable of push myself. I assumed to myself, ‘effectively woman, you are powerful.’ Many occasions I assumed I used to be performed.”

In one other early match on Friday, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-2 to additionally advance to the fourth spherical. Siegemund beat Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen within the second spherical