Top guns Alcaraz, Sabalenka pass early tests to reach third round

Carlos Alcaraz withstood a barrage of big hitting from a familiar foe in Yannick Hanfmann in the Australian Open second round on Wednesday, with fellow top seed Aryna Sabalenka also enduring some shaky moments before sealing progress.

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Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in action during his second round match against Germany's Yannick Hanfmann.

(REUTERS)

Alexander Zverev's advance was stalled by rain showers, an injury scare and feisty Frenchman Alexandre Muller in the evening session, but the men's third seed prevailed in four sets to safely reach the third round.

His equivalent in the women's draw, Coco Gauff, earlier made short work of Olga Danilovic, while inform seventh seed Jasmine Paolini and eighth seed Mirra Andreeva also romped through their contests.

After a comfortable win in the opening round, top seed Alcaraz was given more of a workout by Germany's world number 102 Hanfmann on a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena but rose to the challenge and moved on 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2.

"I knew he was going to play great," Alcaraz, 22, said.

"I knew his level. We came through the Challengers together, I've played him. It was tougher than I thought at the beginning and I didn't feel the ball that good."

Alcaraz found himself trailing 3-1 in the first set and after getting back on level terms wasted several chances to break Hanfmann's huge serve again.