Aryna Sabalenka (1) struggles to beat Denmark’s Clara Tauson 7-6(5) 6-4 in the third round of the Australian Open.
Her opponent in the round of 16 was 17-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva (14), who defeated Polish Magdalena Frech (23).
“The conditions are very difficult, it is very difficult to maintain the service now. It is very important to get those breaks back. I’m very happy that the fight is closed and in the fourth round“, Rod Laver Arena commented on the court after the end of a clash that lasted two hours and six minutes, referring to the seven service breaks that occurred in the first set.
The Belarusian, who also had a contentious encounter in the previous round against Spaniard Jessica Bouzas, added her eighth consecutive victory since the start of her Australian tour. She dropped just one set in these eight victories in the Brisbane final against Russian Veronika Kudermetova.
Sabalenka continues with options become the first tennis player to win three consecutive crowns at Melbourne Park since Swiss Martina Hinguis achieved this feat in 1998.
Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (27) also won her third-round clash.after defeating German Laura Siegemund by a resounding 6-1 and 6-2. Her next obstacle will be Russian Diana Schnaider (12) or Croatian Donna Vekic (18).
Another great favorite played this Friday, Coco Gauff (3) defeated Canadian Leylah Fernandez (30) 6-4, 6-2and will face the Swiss Belinda Bencic in the round of 16.
Bencic advanced after her opponent Naomi Osaka of Japan retired due to injury after losing the first set.
Gauff and Bencic are even head to head (1-1)after the European captured the 2021 semifinals in Adelaide and the North American scored the quarterfinals in Washington in 2023.
Source: La Verdad
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