Favorites Barty, Osaka Advance To Australian Open 3R; Sabalenka, Raducanu Return

Tournament favorites Ash Barty and Naomi Osaka moved to just one win from a fourth round showdown at the Australian Open.

Yesterday in Melbourne, home hero Barty had no issues in with qualifier Lucia Bronzetti in a 6-1, 6-1 blowout. Barty’s lost just three games in four sets thus far, and she’s held serve 48 straight times going back to the start of Adelaide.

After two qualifier, Barty will step up to face the feisty Italian Camila Giorgi Friday night.

“Some very different challenges to what I’ve had the last couple matches,” Barty said looking ahead to the Italian. “She has the ability to hold baseline, to control the center of the court, be super, super aggressive off her serve and first shot, particularly off her return.

“It’s going to be a match where I’m going to have to serve well, bring in variety, make sure I can cover the court, neutralize the best that I can. She has the ability to hit you off the court without realizing it’s happening.”

Osaka kept pace in the evening cruising past Madison Brengle 6-0, 6-4. The defending champion has won her last eight matches in Melbourne and 15 straight overall in the city. She’ll now meet the very in-form and Darren Cahill-led Amanda Anisimova.

The American 20-year-old knocked out Belinda Bencic 6-2, 7-5 to improve her win streak to seven. She and Osaka have never played.

“I know she has a really great return and she has a great backhand and I’m expecting it to be a little bit different from the match today,” Osaka said of Anisimova.

“I think we’re both gonna take our chances. So it’s gonna be really exciting.

“For me it’s very interesting to play against the younger players, because I remember being a younger player myself and feeling like I have nothing to lose.”

Barbora Krejcikova and Jelena Ostapenko advanced to a third round battle between French Open winners. Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka will also collide with Elina Svitolina on Friday.

Sydney champion Paula Badosa, Maria Sakkari and 2021 quarterfinalist Jessica Pegula were also winners into the third round.

Tonight, the second round concludes with No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka hoping to solve her serving woes. Former finalists Garbine Muguruza and Simona Halep return along with US Open champion Emma Raducanu, Anett Kontaveit and Iga Swiatek.

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