MELBOURNE: World number one
Ash Barty
and defending champion
Naomi Osaka
could set up a tantalising fourth-round showdown at the
Australian Open
with victories at Melbourne Park on Friday.
Barty, whose stunning form has seen her drop just three games so far, takes on 30th seed
Camila Giorgi
in the third round, while Osaka faces Amanda Anisimova, who won the Melbourne Summer Set 2 tournament in the lead-up.
Barty and Osaka have both won twice against each other but have not met in over two years.
In a battle of the French Open champions, holder Barbora Krejcikova plays 2017 winner Jelena Ostapenko, while
Victoria Azarenka
continues her quest for an unlikely third Australian Open title against 15th seed Elina Svitolina.
Among the men, the up-and-coming Carlos Alcaraz will be in action against seventh seed Matteo Berrettini on
Rod Laver Arena
, which will be followed by another heavyweight clash involving 20-times major winner
Rafa Nadal
and the big-hitting Karen Khachanov.
World number three Alexander Zverev is also in action on Friday following his straight-sets demolition of Aussie John Millman, with the German hoping to stay on course for a maiden
Grand Slam
triumph against qualifier Radu Albot.
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