Two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka extended a few impressive streaks on Friday while becoming one of the first players to advance to the fourth round of the year's opening Grand Slam tournament.

A four-time Grand Slam champion, Osaka returned from maternity leave last year and lost in the first or second round of all four major tournaments. The 27-year-old Japan native has not won any event on the WTA Tour since capturing her second Australian Open title to start 2021.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka was pushed to the limit in setting up an Australian Open showdown with teenager Mirra Andreeva on Friday but Naomi Osaka's run ended with an injury retirement in round three.

Two-time Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has stopped playing because of an injury after dropping the opening set of her third-round match against Belinda Bencic

After losing the first set 7-6 (3), two-time Australian Open champ Naomi Osaka retired from her third-round match against Belinda Bencic due to injury.

Third round action at the Australian Open sees two-time AO champion Naomi Osaka looking to post her best result at a Grand Slam since 2021, while Jessica Pegula continues her question to reach another Grand Slam title.

Since returning to action a year ago, Osaka has shown signs of getting her game back together, including a memorable and narrow loss to then-No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the French Open.

Naomi Osaka came from a set down to beat Karolina Muchova and reach the third round of the Australian Open - and she admits she was desperate for revenge