MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round with dominant wins at the Australian Open on Friday.
Second-seeded Sabalenka defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-0, 6-0 in 52 minutes, while fourth-seeded Gauff dropped just two games to beat fellow American Alicia Parks 6-0, 6-2. It broke.
Sabalenka, who won her first Grand Slam title here 12 months ago, has dropped just six games in three rounds.
“Last year, Iga (Swiatek) won a lot of sets, 6-0. This is one of my goals to get closer to her,” Sabalenka joked. “I'm very happy with my level of play so far. Hopefully I can keep going like this or even better.”
The two did not shake hands (as is customary for Ukrainian players with opponents from Sabalenka's native Russia and Belarus), but Tsurenko verbally congratulated Sabalenka.
Sabalenka will face Amanda Anisimova, who continued her comeback with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Paula Badosa. Anisimova, who took seven months out of the game last year for mental health reasons, hit 40 winners before she reached the fourth round.
“I just can't believe it,” said the American. “Certainly, taking a step back from the game…gave me a new perspective. I'm trying to be in the present. I think before, I was too caught up in the past and the future.”
Sabalenka said she expected a tough match against Anisimova, who has won four of her five matches.
“She's a great player and I'm really happy to see her back,” Sabalenka said.
Gauff played a near-perfect game, defeating Parks in 61 minutes, committing only eight unforced errors to 34 for her inexperienced opponent.
16-year-old Mira Andreeva continued her impressive debut at the Australian Open, rallying from a 5-1 deficit in the final set to defeat France's Diane Parry 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5) ) broke it.
The Russian was in tears just one game away from defeat, but staged a stunning comeback, saving a match point at 2-5 and winning the decisive tie-break 10-5.
Fourth place Jannik Sinner defeated Sebastian Baez 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 to advance to the fourth round without losing a set. The Italian defeated Tomas Machak 6-4, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (5) in the fourth round against 15th seed Karen Khachanov, scoring 25 at the net. He scored 18 points. ).
“I really liked the conditions today because there was no wind and no sun,” Sinner said. “I felt great with the ball. I made the right decisions and took advantage of every opportunity.”
No. 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas had an equally impressive performance, defeating Luka van Assche 6-3, 6-0, 6-4. He will face world No. 12 Taylor Fritz, who defeated Fabian Morosan 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
Ten-time Australian champion Novak Djokovic will face Thomas Martin Etcheverry in his third consecutive night of action. Local prospect Alex de Minaur faced Italy's Flavio Cobolli.
