Australian open round

Rod Laver Arena: World No.1 and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka fended off 42nd-ranked Clara Tauson of Denmark 7-6 (5), 6-4 in their third-round match on Rod Laver Arena to enter the round of 16 at the Australian Open on Friday.

Sabalenka was down 5-3 in the opening set before the Belarusian battled past former Junior World No. 1 Tauson in 2 hours and 6 minutes, becoming the first woman to make the Australian Open Round of 16 for five straight years since Simona Halep did it from 2018 through 2022.

Moreover, Sabalenka recorded her 17th straight match win at the Australian Open, the most by any woman at this event since Victoria Azarenka won 18 straight in Melbourne between 2012 and 2014.