3 minute read

World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka has battled into the Australian Open fourth round, once again overcoming her shaky serve at Melbourne Park.

Aryna Sabalenka is relieved to be through to the Australian Open second week after overcoming another shaky service display at Melbourne Park.

Sabalenka was delighted to have made "only" 10 double faults against Marketa Vondrousova after fighting back from a set down to prevail 4-6 6-3 6-1 on Saturday.

The world No.2 has gone to three sets in all her Melbourne Park matches and previously made 19 double faults in her second-round clash with Wang Xinyu.

"I'm really happy right now and mostly I'm happy that I made only 10 double faults," Sabalenka said, raising both arms to the sky and fist-pumping.

"She played unbelievable tennis today, I pushed myself really hard and I'm really happy with this win.

"I'll just keep working on my serve and hope it's better with every match."

The 23-year-old reeled off the final six games of the match, clubbing 14 winners in the final set to tee-up a fourth-round clash with six-time grand slam quarter-finalist Kaia Kanepi.

The 36-year-old Kanepi knocked out local wildcard Maddison Inglis 2-6 6-2 6-0 to reach the Melbourne Park second week for the first time.

"Another big hitter, it's going to be an interesting match and I'm really looking forward to this one," Sabalenka said.

Former world No.1 and Melbourne Park finalist Simona Halep made light work of Danka Kovinic in her third-round clash at John Cain Arena, thrashing the Montenegrin 6-2 6-1 to reach the second week for a fifth consecutive year.

Halep will next face Alize Cornet after the French veteran fought back from a set and 4-1 down against 29th seed Tamara Zidansek to win 4-6 6-4 6-2.

"Tamara was playing great tennis, I was not playing my best," said Cornet, who ousted Garbine Muguruza in the second round.

"I just kept going, I was just fighting, I put all the resilience I could put in this match and finally I came back and wow, it's a magic win for me.

"I'm so happy. I mean, it's been 13 years after my first fourth round, and I'm back in the fourth round in the Australian Open. Oh my god."

Saturday also marked Cornet's 32nd birthday and, after initially departing the court post-interview, she was brought back where the Margaret Court Arena crowd sang a rousing version of 'Happy Birthday'.

Elsewhere, 27th seed and 2019 Open semi-finalist Danielle Collins fought back from a set and 4-2 down against rising Danish star Clara Tauson to prevail 4-6 6-4 7-5 and book a spot in the fourth round.

Collins will face 19th seed Elise Mertens, who thrashed veteran Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-2.

Seventh-seeded Pole Iga Swiatek also made short work of Russian Daria Kasatkina, winning 6-2 6-3.

It's the third time Swiatek, the 2020 French Open champion, has made to the final 16 in Melbourne and she declared on court after the win it was "time for a new PB".

She will face Romania's Sorana Cirstea, who caused an upset in the late match, battling past 10th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 2-6 6-2.