Inconsistent Sabalenka advances to the fourth round at the Australian Open

Posted January 22, 2026 9:35 pm

Associated Press

Aryna Sabalenka serves to Anastasia Potapova during their third-round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday. Sabalenka won in two sets. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

MELBOURNE, Australia — Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka overcame several bouts of inconsistent play Friday to beat Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) and advance to the fourth round at the Australian Open.

Sabalenka, chasing her third Australian Open title in four years, led 6-5 and 40-0 in the opening set but Potapova saved all three set points to send it to a tiebreaker. Sabalenka led 3-0 in the tiebreaker before Potapova leveled at 3-3.

Sabalenka held two more set points and clinched the set when she laced a backhand down the line off Potapova’s second serve.

After trailing 4-0 in the second set, Potapova rallied to tie it 4-4 and again force a tiebreaker. Potapova had three set points to win the set in the tiebreaker, but Sabalenka rallied when the pressure was on.

“She played incredible tennis,” Sabalenka said of Potapova in her on-court TV interview. “I was always on the back foot. There are days where you just have to fight and … it was such a fight.”

Sabalenka won the Australian Open title in 2023 and 2024 and was the runner-up a year ago to Madison Keys. Sabalenka has also won the U.S. Open twice.

On the men's side, 25th-seeded Learner Tien of the U.S., defeated Nuno Borges 7-6 (9), 6-4, 6-2.

In later matches on Friday, top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz played Corentin Moutet, Daniil Medvedev faced Fabian Marozsan and third-seeded Coco Gauff played fellow American Hailey Baptiste.

Aryna Sabalenka, right, of Belarus, is congratulated by Anastasia Potapova, left, of Austria following their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after defeating Bai Zhuoxuan of China in their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Learner Tien, right, of the U.S. is congratulated by Nuno Borges, left, of Portugal during their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)