MELBOURNE, Australia — Coco Gauff remains undefeated, having yet to drop a match or even a set this season, including her impressive performance at the Australian Open. She cruised into the fourth round at Melbourne Park on Friday night, defeating 2021 U.S. Open finalist Leylah Fernandez with ease, 6-4, 6-2.
Amidst unexpected outcomes in the men’s side of the tournament, the top female players, with the exception of No. 5 Zheng Qinwen, have made their way through the rounds without facing major hurdles. Notable victories on Friday include those of No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion in Australia; No. 3 Gauff; No. 11 Paula Badosa; and No. 14 Mirra Andreeva.
Naomi Osaka, a two-time Australian Open champion, withdrew from her match after the first set due to an abdominal strain against Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Belinda Bencic.
No. 7 Jessica Pegula was set to take on Olga Danilovic later on Friday.
The men’s third round saw victories from No. 2 Alexander Zverev, No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, and No. 12 Tommy Paul, with Novak Djokovic, a ten-time Australian Open champion, facing No. 26 Tomas Machac later that evening.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina staged a remarkable comeback, winning after being two sets down for the second consecutive match. He saved two match points to edge out 19-year-old Jakub Mensik, finishing 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-2.
Alcaraz’s next challenge will come from either No. 15 Jack Draper or Aleksandar Vukic.
Last year, 2023 U.S. Open champion Gauff made her best run in Melbourne, reaching the semifinals before bowing out to Sabalenka, who maintained her winning streak at the tournament with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Clara Tauson on Friday.
Much like Gauff, Sabalenka is also maintaining an unbeaten streak early in the 2025 season. The two could potentially face off again in the semifinals next weekend.
Gauff’s match against Fernandez lasted a mere 75 minutes, during which she was broken only once and amassed an impressive 18-7 edge in total winners.
This marked Gauff’s second victory over Fernandez in recent weeks, following a win in the United Cup, contributing to her 8-0 record for the season and a perfect 16-0 in sets.
“This one was harder,” Gauff noted, “because she knows what to expect, and I think she played a bit differently today.”
To adapt, Gauff has made strategic changes in her approach, including adjustments to her coaching team and modifications in her serving and forehand techniques, following her mixed feelings about her Grand Slam results in 2024, even though she concluded the season clinching a title at the WTA Finals.
“Tennis feels so high stakes, but it’s really not. I’m incredibly fortunate to pursue what I love — and get compensated for it,” shared Gauff, a talented 20-year-old from Florida.
“The biggest lesson I learned last year was not to take anything for granted,” Gauff said, “and to appreciate that time passes rapidly. … I’m just savoring every moment I have here.”
Neither Sabalenka nor Tauson found their serving rhythm in Rod Laver Arena. Perhaps the sun, the wind, or the slower court conditions played a role.
The match began with the first seven games resulting in breaks, with Tauson holding serve first while taking a 5-3 lead. At that moment, Sabalenka found her stride.
“I’m thrilled I could push through,” Sabalenka expressed. “I reminded myself, ‘You are strong.’ Many times, I thought I was finished.”
Her upcoming opponent will be 17-year-old Andreeva, who won her match against No. 23 Magdalena Frech with scores of 6-2, 1-6, 6-2. Badosa narrowly claimed victory over No. 17 Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, and 2021 French Open finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, seeded 27th, triumphed over Laura Siegemund with a score of 6-1, 6-2. Siegemund faced a setback after her notable win against Zheng, who was the runner-up to Sabalenka in Australia last January and claimed a gold medal at the Paris Olympics last August.
In the men’s lineup, Alcaraz experienced his first set loss of the tournament but still defeated Nuno Borges 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2. Zverev overcame Jacob Fearnley 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, while Paul dispatched Robert Carballes Baena with a dominant 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-0 victory.