Sabalenka advances into Australian Open third round

World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus made it to the third round of Australian Open running , in Melbourne, BelTA learned. 

 In her second round match, the two-time Australian Open champion defeated Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (No. 54) 6-3, 7-5. The match lasted 1 hour and 35 minutes. In the first round the Belarusian outplayed U.S. Sloane Stephens. In the third-round match she will face up Denmark’s Clara Tauson (42). Aryna Sabalenka won the Australian championship twice: in 2023 and 2024.

Another two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka (24) of Belarus lost her opening match to Italy's Lucia Bronzetti (76). Azarenka wa victorious in Melbourne in 2012 and 2013. The first Grand Slam tournament of the season finishes on 26 January.