Emotional Sabalenka comes through test to make last 16 at Australian OpenMELBOURNE, Jan 23, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An emotional top seed Aryna Sabalenka survived a thorough examination from Anastasia Potapova before reaching the last 16 of the Australian Open on Friday to keep her on track for a third Melbourne title. The four-time Grand Slam champion needed 2hr 2min to see off the unseeded Russia-born Austrian Potapova 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (9/7) as the temperatures climbed on Rod Laver Arena. Little separated them until the 12th game when Sabalenka turned up the heat to work four set points on Potapova's serve. But the gritty Potapova saved them all and held on to take the set to a tiebreak, where Sabalenka finally took charge. It sparked her to life and she crunched winners to break Potapova twice and open a 3-0 lead in the second set with the Austrian seemingly out of ideas.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha January 23, 2026 04:09 UTC