Aryna Sabalenka Battles On, Coco Gauff Eyes Naomi Osaka Clash In Australian Open 3rd Round

Aryna Sabalenka stayed on track for an Australian Open hat-trick Friday, while later Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka can set up a blockbuster clash and Novak Djokovic steps up his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title. Women's number one Sabalenka was made to work hard behind a faltering serve before beating Denmark's Clara Tauson in straight sets in the third round on Rod Laver Arena. Sabalenka was broken four straight times at the start of the match but somehow clung on to win 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 after more than two hours of attritional tennis.

"I'm just super happy that I was able to just stay in the game and I was able to push myself, honestly, to the limit to get this win," said Sabalenka.

It puts the defending champion into a potential clash against highly rated 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva.

Carlos Alcaraz, who has raced into the last 32 for the loss of just 12 games, and second seed Alexander Zverev will also look to book their places in the second week of the opening Grand Slam of the year.

American third seed Gauff had to battle back from 5-3 down in the second set against Britain's Jodie Burrage in round two after dropping her serve three times.

She knows she will need to improve against former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, even though she recently beat the Canadian at the United Cup.

"Obviously I did well at the United Cup. It's a different match, different story. Anything can happen," said Gauff, who plays in the night session on Margaret Court Arena.

Awaiting the victor will be either two-time Melbourne champion Osaka or Switzerland's Belinda Bencic, the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist.

Following two tough three-set wins in Melbourne, Osaka is in the third round of a Slam for the first time since the birth of her