Two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her successful streak on the Australian Open by defeating Denmark’s Clara Tauson in straight units.
Sabalenka steamrollered previous Tauson 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in two hours and 6 minutes on Rod Laver Enviornment to assert her seventeenth win in a row in Melbourne, reserving her place within the fourth spherical.
The 26-year-old emerged with extra winners and fewer unforced errors than Tauson in a match that featured 11 service breaks, together with every of the primary seven video games.
The Belarusian was unable to benefit from 4 set factors at 5-6 within the first set however ultimately prevailed within the tie-breaker.
Tauson, who has by no means reached the final 16 of a Grand Slam and is ranked forty second on this planet, misplaced her serve early within the second set, then clawed again to a 4-4 tie earlier than Sabalenka took the ultimate two video games.
“She put me under pressure,” Sabalenka stated. “She performed actually nice tennis below strain, as properly. It was an amazing degree from her.
“If she’s going to continue working, improving herself, playing the way she played today, of course, she’s going to be there [at the highest level].”
Sabalenka will face teenage 14th seed Mirra Andreeva, who beat Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-2 1-6 6-2, within the subsequent spherical.
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