Home favourite Ash Barty bids to continue her strong start to the Australian Open when she faces Camila Giorgi in…
Home favourite Ash Barty bids to continue her strong start to the Australian Open when she faces Camila Giorgi in the third round on Friday.
The top seed headlines the action as round three of the season’s first Slam takes centre stage at Melbourne Park
Seeking a maiden title on home soil, 2020 semi-finalist Barty has dropped just three games across her opening two matches so far.
Standing in the Wimbledon champion’s way is 30th seed Giorgi, who is aiming to reach round four here for the first time.
Yet to drop a set, two-time winner Naomi Osaka resumes her quest to complete a hat-trick against Amanda Anisimova, who stunned Olympic gold medallist Belinda Bencic in the previous round, while fifth seed Maria Sakkari also enters her clash with Veronika Kudermetova having won four sets without reply.
Over in the men’s draw, 2009 champion Rafael Nadal continues his latest mission to land that record-breaking 21st major against Karen Khachanov, who is aiming for a maiden fourth-round berth in Victoria, while third seed Alexander Zverev takes on Moldova’s Radu Albot.
Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini faces a potential banana skin against Spanish teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz, who is yet to drop a set this week, as 16th and 17th seeds Cristian Garin and Gael Monfils collide.
Back in the Ladies’ draw, Barbora Krejcikova, Paula Badosa and Victoria Azarenka all enter the third round having only dropped seven games thus far.
Fourth seed Krejcikova, who can go top of the WTA rankings by lifting the trophy on January 29, faces fellow French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Eighth seed Badosa is making her first appearance in the third round against Marta Kostyuk while two-time champion Azarenka, who last progressed beyond round one here in 2016, locks horns with Elina Svitolina.
Play gets underway across all courts at 12am GMT on Friday with men’s singles matches contested over the best of five sets, while three sets will determine the outcome of the ladies’ singles clashes.
WATCH AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY FIVE STREAMED LIVE HERE (18+)
Australian Open 2022 Day Five Schedule
Friday January 21
All times GMT
Third Round
ROD LAVER ARENA (from 12am)
Victoria Azarenka (BEL) v Elina Svitolina (UKR)
Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) v Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) v Matteo Berrettini (ITA)
From 8am
Ash Barty (AUS) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Karen Khachanov (RUS) v Rafael Nadal (ESP)
MARGARET COURT ARENA (from 12am)
Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) v Jessica Pegula (USA)
Marta Kostyuk (UKR) v Paula Badosa (ESP)
Reilly Opelka (USA) v Denis Shapovalov (CDN)
From 8am
Amanda Anisimova (USA) v Naomi Osaka (JPN)
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) v Aslan Karatsev (RUS)
JOHN CAIN ARENA (from 2am)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Maria Sakkari (GRE)
Alexander Zverev (GER) v Radu Albot (MOL)
KIA ARENA (from 2am)
Gael Monfils (FRA) v Cristian Garin (CHI)
1573 ARENA (from 12am)
Miomir Kecmanovic (SER) v Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)
COURT 3 (from 2am)
Madison Keys (USA) v Qiang Wang (CHN)
Sebastian Korda (USA) v Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)