American teenager Coco Gauff extended her impressive winning streak to nine matches with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Jodie Burrage in the Australian Open second round. Gauff overcame a 5-3 deficit in the second set, rallying with four straight games to secure the win.
The World No. 7 now sets up a third-round clash with 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, who triumphed 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 against Cristina Bucsa.
In other action, two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka marked her return to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time since giving birth in July 2023.
The World No. 51 rallied from a set down to defeat 20th seed Karolina Muchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 in just under two hours. Osaka will next face Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, who also returned from maternity leave to dispatch Dutchwoman Suzan Lamens 6-1, 7-6(3).
Seventh seed Jessica Pegula cruised into the third round with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Elise Mertens, snapping a losing streak against the 2018 semifinalist. Pegula, a three-time Australian Open quarterfinalist, needed just 1 hour and 11 minutes to seal the win. She will meet Olga Danilovic, who stunned 25th seed Liudmila Samsonova with a 6-1, 6-2 upset.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka, on a 16-match winning streak at Melbourne Park, faced a tough challenge but eventually advanced to the third round for the fifth consecutive year.
After losing the first set, Sabalenka found herself trailing 5-2 in the second. However, she mounted a comeback, winning five straight games to clinch the set and secure a spot in the next round.
(With IANS input)
