Aryna Sabalenka Vs Anastasia Potapova Highlights, AO 2026: Belarusian Beats Austrian Opponent Via Tie-Break

Hello, we’re back with another live blog, and it’s Aryna Sabalenka vs Anastasia Potapova at the Australian Open 2026. Stay tuned for live updates.

We will have action soon from the Rod Laver Arena as the players make their way to the court.

Action to start soon as both players prepare for the third round action at the Australian Open.

Sabalenka holds her serve as she takes the first game despite Potapova taking it to 40-all.

Both players have held on their serve as the score moves to 2-2 in the 1st set. Potapova is giving the Belarusian some tough time on the court with the world no. 1 unable to break.

Sabalenka finding it difficult against Potapova's serve as the set goes to 3-3. Belarusian is the favourite to go through but just as her first round game, she is struggling to find rhythm in the 1st set.

Sabalenka is 5-4 up as she breaks Potapova's serve and gains control of the first set. The Austrian-born German is serving to stay in the game.

Uh-oh! The first tie-break for Sabalenka at the Australian Open 2026. The world no. 1 is unable to break serve as she will now want to find that every ounce of energy to battle her Austrian opponent.

A winner down the baseline from Sabalenka as she takes the first set via tie-break against Potapova. She wins 7-6 (7-4) as the Belarusian roars after sending the winner.

Belarusian showing her true champion quality as she races to 2-0 lead in the 2nd set. After a tough tie-breaker in the first set, she breaks Anastasia Potapova's serve in the first game of the second set.

Anastasia Potapova is finding hard to contain Sabalenka's serve and forehands. All of a sudden, the world no. 1 is on top in this set as she races to a 4-1 lead and will be hard to stop by.

Hello? Sabalenka is has just conceded three game points to make it 4-4 in the second-set. The Belarusian cannot believe it as Potapova fights back and makes it love-all.

Sabalenka breaks Potapova's serve as the Belarusian now makes it 5-4 and now will serve for the match. Is this the game right here? Or will the Austrian fight back again?

From 0-3 down, Anastasia Potapova makes it 5-5 in the second set. She breaks the World No. 1 twice in succession in the second set. This is sensational stuff from the 24-year-old. A solid match to start Friday's proceedings at Rod Laver Arena.

Anastasia Potapova is giving a tough battle to the world no. 1 seed as we witness second set tie-break.

Austrian had the second set right in her palm of the hands but Sabalenka's serves as well as Potapova's double faults allows the World no. 1 to get back in the contest as she takes the match point and wins the match 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (9-7).

"I was emotionally all over the place. She played really well," says Sabalenka.