ARYNA SABALENKA THROUGH TO FOURTH ROUND OF AUSTRALIAN OPEN AFTER TOUGH BATTLE

MELBOURNE, VIC - JANUARY 12: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates during Round 1 of the 2025 Australian Open on January 12 2025, at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Jason Heidrich/Icon Sportswire

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka shrugged off a shaky display to fight her way into the fourth round of the Australian Open.

The Belarusian had a 7-6(5) 6-4 victory over Denmark's Clara Tauson.

The day's first match on the Rod Laver Arena at the start of the sixth day of the championships was hardly vintage tennis, but Sabalenka was pleased to come away unscathed after a little over two hours in bright sunshine and challenging conditions.

"She played some unbelievable tennis," Sabalenka said.

"I'm super happy that I was able to close out this match and be in the fourth round."

Aryna Sabalenka is chasing a third straight Australian Open title at the 2025 tournament. Photo: Photosport

Sabalenka has been far from her devastating best in the first two rounds and against Tauson she dropped serve four times in a wobbly opening set, but her opponent was equally profligate as both players struggled with the sun and breeze.

"Conditions are really tough for serving, the balls are heavy and the surface slow so with the breaks," said Sabalenka, who conceded four breaks in the opening set of a match for the first time since San Diego in 2022.

"I was just thinking, just keep pushing through."

The first hold in the eighth game was greeted with a big round of applause as world number 42 Tauson surged to a 5-3 lead, but Sabalenka bounced back.

The top seed stabilised her own delivery and then drew level at 5-5 before Tauson recovered to save four set points and force a tiebreak, where she matched the big-hitting Belarusian punch for punch in the first 10 points.

Novak Djokovic continues his quest for a 25th Grand Slam title. Photo: AFP

Sabalenka shifted up a gear, however, and earned a set point with a stinging backhand winner before closing it out with a big forehand to leave Auckland champion Tauson a tad deflated after 63 minutes of toil.

The Dane gifted her opponent a break early in the second set but continued to carve out chances and made it to 4-4, only to fade away after a marathon game that had seven deuces as the momentum shifted one last time.

Sabalenka completed the win on serve to keep alive her bid to become the first woman to capture three successive titles at Melbourne Park since Martina Hingis from 1997-99.

Novak Djokovic resumes his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title and 11th at Melbourne Park later in the day and Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Coco Gauff will also be in action on the main showcourts.

Meanwhile, Kiwi Erin Routliffe has progressed to third round with doubles partner Gaby Dabrowski.

The second seeds dropped the first set against Anna Sisková and Maia Lumsden, before coming back to claim the match 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

It was another tough battle for the pair, who were also made to come back from a precarious position in the opening round.

- Reuters

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DAVID GOFFIN SLAMS 'TOTAL DISRESPECT' FROM FRENCH OPEN FANS

David Goffin cupped his ear to the crowd as he was booed following his win

 PARIS -- David Goffin accused partisan fans at the French Open of "total disrespect" and said he was spat at by a spectator during his marathon first-round victory over local favorite Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Fans can often turn the usually quiet Roland Garros courts into a wild arena when a French player needs backing, with the resulting atmosphere unmatched at the other three majors. Goffin, of Belgium, was subjected to the experience Tuesday afternoon.

On a raucous Court 14, Goffin kept his cool to defeat wild card Perricard 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3 before the former world No. 7 held his hand to his ears as he left the venue to loud jeers.

"When you are insulted for 3½ hours, you have to tease the public a little," Goffin told Belgian media. "Clearly, it goes too far, it's total disrespect. It's really too much. It's becoming football. Soon there will be smoke bombs, hooligans and fights in the stands. It's starting to become ridiculous. Some people are there more to cause trouble than to create an atmosphere.

"Someone spat out their chewing gum at me. [The match] was getting complicated. That's why I wanted to stay calm. If I started to get angry about it, it could have destabilized me."

Goffin urged the organizers of the year's second Grand Slam to take action.

"A lot of people are complaining. A lot of umpires feel that there is a lot of disrespect," Goffin said. "This is repeated a lot in the locker room and among the ATP authorities. We're going to have to do something about that.

"I think it only happens in France. At Wimbledon, obviously, there's not that. Or in Australia either. At the US Open, it's still rather quiet. Here, it's a really unhealthy atmosphere."

Tournament organizers said officials would ensure that fans follow the rules and respect players.

"The public are incredibly enthusiastic, particularly on the outside courts," they said in a statement. "However, they must of course show full respect to all players while doing so. Oversight bodies are in place to make sure rules are followed. Although it's only natural that fans share their excitement and cheer on their favorites, this may not in any case go against the values of tennis or consideration for the players."

Last year, Taylor Fritz got a reminder of how brutal the venue can be as persistent boos and whistles rained down from the Philippe Chatrier stands as the American shushed fans repeatedly after beating Arthur Rinderknech.

When the crowd pick on a player, it can become unsettling, as Martina Hingis found out during the 1999 title clash against Steffi Graf. Jeered by the fans after disputing a line call while up 6-4, 2-0, the Swiss player lost her composure and the match, only to be booed again after match point.

- Reuters