MELBOURNE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The big names in tennis booked their spot in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday, with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Simona Halep and Serena Williams all cruising to victory.
Although it took world No. 1 Djokovic four sets to dispatch of talented teen Denis Shapovalov, the experience and power of the Serb would prove too much in the third round match-up and he took the contest 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
Canada's Milos Raonic also came out on top against Pierre-Hugues Herbert, with the final score ending 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (6), while Japanese veteran Kei Nishikori overcame a tough first set to eclipse Joao Sousa 7-6 (6), 6-1, 6-2.
Fourth seeded German Alexander Zverev made light work of local star Alex Bolt 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 and fellow Aussie Alexei Popyrin also exited the tournament at the hands of Frenchman Luca Pouille in a thrilling five-set battle 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-7 (10), 4-6, 6-3.
In the days other men's matches 11th seed Borna Coric out did Filip Krajinovic 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, Spanish hitter Pablo Carreno Busta got past 12th seed Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 and Russia's Daniil Medvedev proved too strong for David Goffin, winning in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-3.
In the women's bracket, Serena Williams blasted Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska off the court in a 6-2, 6-1 victory and 7th seed Karolina Pliskova outlasted Camila Giorgi despite a second set scare 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
It was also an impressive performance for world No. 1 Halep who outworked Venus Williams to claim a comprehensive 6-2, 6-3 win, while American Madison Keys managed to upset 12th seed Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-2.
Spain's Garbine Muguruza won a close contest against Timea Bacsinszky 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Reigning U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka came back from one set down to edge out Chinese Taipei's Hsieh Su-wei 5-7, 6-4, 6-1.
China's Wang Qiang also failed to find her groove against Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova, with the match ending 6-3, 6-3, while fellow countryman Zhang Shuai bowed out in a tight contest against 6th seed Elina Svitolina 6-4, 4-6, 5-7.