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.

The day's first match at Rod Laver Arena was hardly vintage tennis, but Sabalenka was pleased to come away unscathed.

Aryna Sabalenka is coming off a massive 2024: Last year, the Belarus native won both the Australian and US Opens, finishing the year at No. 1 in the world singles rankings. But when she starts to feel the pressure, Aryna does what any other 26-year-old would do: She goes shopping and eats a satisfying meal.

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.

The defending champion shrugs off a shaky display to beat Clara Tauson 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 . Read more at straitstimes.com.

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.

By Shrivathsa Sridhar MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka overcame a wobbly display to reach the Australian Open fourth round while Carlos Alcaraz was at his dazzling best despite a blip as warm and windy weather tested the composure of players on Friday.