“The conditions are really tough to serve, heavy conditions,” Sabalenka said. “It was really important to get all of those breaks back. It could have gone either way.”
In mostly routine men’s play, second-seeded Alexander Zverev beat Jacob Fearnley 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz defeated Nuno Borges 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2. Earlier American Tommy Paul beat Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-0 to also advance to the fourth round.
Sabalanka broke Tauson’s serve in the third game of the second set and from there the odds were in Sabalenka’s favor — when Sabalenka has an early break in a set, she wins it 88% of the time. But she still needed a break after seven deuces in the ninth game to put her in control and served out the match — after saving two break points in the final game.
“That was a great battle, she played unbelievable tennis,” Sabalenka said. “I am super happy I was able to push myself. I told myself, ‘well girl, you are tough.’ So many times I thought I was done.”
In another early match Friday, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Laura Siegemund 6-1, 6-2 to also advance to the fourth round. Siegemund beat Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen in the second round.
Also advancing Friday were 11th-seeded Paula Badosa, who beat Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, and 18th-seeded Donna Vekic, who defeated 12th-seeded Diana Shnaider 7-6 (4), 6- (3), 7-5.. And 14th-seeded Mirra Andreeva beat Magdalena Frech 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.
