Two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka beat Clara Tauson 7-6 (5), 6-4 to open the sixth day of play at the Australian Open, while Naomi Osaka retired due to injury in her match with Belinda Bencic.

Sabalenka was pleased to come away unscathed after a little over two hours in bright sunshine and challenging conditions.

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka has reached the fourth round of the 2025 Australian Open after defeating Denmark's Clara Tauson. The 26-year-old Belarusian clinched a hard-fought victory with a scoreline of 7-6 (5) 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena.

It wasn't often pretty, but two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka extended a few impressive streaks on Friday while becoming one of the first players to advance to the fourth round of the year's opening Grand Slam tournament.

Aryna Sabalenka stayed on track for an Australian Open hat-trick Friday, while later Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka can set up a blockbuster clash and Novak Djokovic steps up his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title.