Australian Open: Top seeds Sabalenka and Alcaraz cruise through but Raducanu is out
There were no shocks with the big guns all advancing on day four of the Australian Open
Aryna Sabalenka took the chance to play some experimental tennis during her routine win over Bai Zhuoxuan at the Australian Open – but admitted the results were mixed.
The world number one cruised into the third round 6-3 6-1 with a victory so straightforward she found time to mix up her trademark power game with some serve-and-volley points and a sprinkling of drop shots.
It didn’t always work but there was never any danger of the Belarusian failing to advance against a player ranked 702 in the world after an injury-ravaged 2025.
“Maybe this is the way to improve, like every time to search for something new,” Sabalenka said. “The serve-and-volley today didn’t really work well. I did one, that’s success. But I’m trying, I’m trying my best.”
Sabalenka was seeded to meet Emma Raducanu next but the Brit failed to keep her end of the bargain, going down 7-6 (7/3) 6-2 to Anastasia Potapova.
Third seed Coco Gauff breezed through, beating Olga Danilovic 6-2 6-2. Danilovic beat Venus Williams in round one but could not back it up against another American.
Gauff will play compatriot Hailey Baptiste next.
“I’m really excited to play her,” Gauff said. “I’ve known her for so long, and it’s always great to see people you come up with do well on the tour and be able to face them in these big matches. The last time I played her was a while ago and we’ve both gotten better since then, so it will be different, but I’m looking forward to it.
“It won’t be easy, but I’m proud of us to make it to this stage.”
There were wins on Wednesday for Jessica Paolini, Mirra Andreeva, Elena Svitolina and Karolina Muchova.
ALCARAZ LEADS LEADING SEEDS THROUGH IN MEN’S DRAW
Carlos Alcaraz’s bid to land the career grand slam remains on course after the Spaniard beat Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 6-2.
The top seed said: “Really, really happy that I get through a really difficult first set and then I started to feel a little bit better on the court with my shots.
“Tactically I played much, much better so [I’m] just happy to have played at a really good level at the end of the match and get through to another round.”
Last year’s beaten finalist Alexander Zverev dropped a set but came through against Alexandre Muller while home hope Alex de Minaur delighted the crowd on Rod Laver Arena by hitting back to see off Hamad Medjedovic, also in four.
Russians Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev are into round three, as are American pair Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe.
Thursday’s Schedule (in full HERE)
Rod Laver Arena
J Pegula v M Kessler
F Maestrelli v N Djokovic
J Duckworth v J Sinner
E Rybakina v V Gracheva