Djokovic back in cruise control, Sabalenka, Sinner charge into second week in Melbourne

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic resumed business as usual to move a step closer to an 11th Australian Open title with a host of other contenders also making light work of third-round matches on Friday (Jan 19).

Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff and Stefanos Tsitsipas were equally efficient in their third-round matches, although not quite as much as defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka who beat against Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko 6-0 6-0.

The opening days of the year's first Grand Slam have been littered with lengthy duels, marathon tiebreaks and upsets and Djokovic, unbeaten at Melbourne Park since 2018, had survived dogfights in his opening two matches.

But the Serb, playing his 100th Australian Open match, was in no mood for a late night as he clinically disposed of dangerous Argentine 30th seed Tomas Etcheverry 6-3 6-3 7-6(2) to move ominously into the second week.

"It was a great match, the best for me so far in this tournament and I was pleased with the way I played the entire match," Djokovic, who is bidding to collect a record 25th Grand Slam title, said on Rod Laver Arena.

"He raised his level in the third and we went toe to toe, but I found the right shots in the tiebreaker to close it."

Djokovic's 92nd match win at the Australian Open never looked in doubt as he looked sharper than in his laboured victories against Dino Prizmic and Alexei Popyrin.

Etcheverry dug deep to extend Djokovic in the third set but the tiebreak had an inevitable feel as the top seed moved through to the last 16 where he will face either rising American Ben Shelton or experienced Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.

While day six largely avoided the drama of Thursday's action, Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva produced a thrilling comeback from 5-1 down in the third