Australian Open 2025 results: Aryna Sabalenka advances to round four after battling win

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka continued her bid for a third Australian Open title in a row with victory over Denmark’s Clara Tauson in straight sets.

The 26-year-old Belarusian was made to work for his 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 victory on Rod Laver Arena but secured victory in two hours and six minutes to progress to the fourth round.

There were 11 breaks of serve in a match of rapidly shifting momentum at Melbourne Park.

“It was a great match,” Sabalenka said.

“She played incredible tennis. It was really difficult to play against her today.

“I’m just super happy that I was able to just stay in the game and I was able to push myself, honestly, to the limit to get this win.”

Eight of the 11 breaks of serve came in the first set as both players battled for momentum, and Tauson earned the match’s first break of serve in the eighth game.

After Sabalenka broke back for the fourth time, Tauson, 22, saved four set points to force a tie-break, but the world number one finally took her chance at the fifth opportunity to seal the opening set with a thunderous forehand.

The second set followed a similar pattern as Sabalenka struggled to find a first serve, but she eventually broke in the ninth game, the longest of the match, which featured seven deuces, and then served for victory to secure a 17th straight victory in Melbourne.

Despite three hard-fought matches, Sabalenka advances to the second week at Melbourne Park without dropping a set and with a 30th win in 31 hard-court Slams matches since the start of 2023.

Sabalenka will face Poland’s Magdalena Frech or teenage 14th seed Mirra Andreeva in the next round.