Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was pushed to the limit in setting up an Australian Open showdown with teenager Mirra Andreeva on Friday but

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka had to battle hard to beat Denmark's Clara Tauson 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 on Friday and reach the second week of the Australian Open after suffering another bout of the serving jitters.

Last year's runner-up Zheng Qinwen was knocked out of the Australian Open on Wednesday in the biggest shock so far but defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and two-time winner Naomi Osaka battled into the third round.

Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka can set up a blockbuster clash as the Australian Open enters the third round on Friday while Novak Djokovic steps up his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

Aryna Sabalenka survives first Australian Open test, while Chinese ace Qinwen Zheng is shocked; Naomi Osaka sets up meeting with fellow mum Belinda Bencic; watch all the action from the ATP and WTA Tours on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+,

Sabalenka's fourth-round challenge will be the 14th seed Mirra Andreeva, who she leads 3-1 in head-to-head record. Andreeva secured her first win against Sabalenka at the French Open quarterfinals last year.

A four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka returned from maternity leave last year and lost in the first or second round of all four major tournaments. The 27-year-old Japan native has not won any event on the WTA Tour since capturing her second Australian Open title to start 2021.

Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen won’t be repeating her surprising run to the Australian Open final in 2025 after a second-round upset loss to No. 97-ranked Laura Siegemund.

Coco Gauff and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka have moved closer to another semifinal showdown at the Australian Open. Gauff eliminated 2021 U.S.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame a shaky contest to progress to the fourth round. Meanwhile, two-time champion Naomi Osaka retired midway through her third-round match due to an injury on Friday,

Aryna Sabalenka backed Clara Tauson to break into the top 10 after battling past the young Dane to set up a fourth-round clash with Mirra Andreeva. The two-time defending Australian Open champion was relieved to survive an intense contest on Rod Laver Arena, which she won 7-6 (5) 6-4 after two hours and six minutes.