Aryna struggles with serve game

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka blamed heavy balls and a slow court yesterday as she dropped four serve games in a row before "pushing to the limit" to keep her Australian Open hat-trick dream alive.

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Melbourne - Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka blamed heavy balls and a slow court yesterday as she dropped four serve games in a row before "pushing to the limit" to keep her Australian Open hat-trick dream alive.

The world No 1 had to battle hard to beat Denmark's Clara Tauson 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in the third round and reach the second week in Melbourne.

But her serving woes, which plagued her in the previous round, dogged her again in a roller coaster scrap that lasted more than two hours on Rod Laver Arena.