MELBOURNE, Jan 23 (AFP): Carlos Alcaraz stepped up his quest to win a maiden Australian Open as he overwhelmed showman Corentin Moutet on Friday to reach the last 16 while Aryna Sabalenka said she was "emotionally all over the place" in victory.
Three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev battled through on day six at a warm and sunny Melbourne Park, as did Coco Gauff.
Alexander Zverev, the third seed, plays later in the day.
Top seed Alcaraz was never in danger against French 32nd seed Moutet, easing through 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena in 2hr 5min.
It was the Spaniard's 100th Grand Slam match and he boasts a remarkable 87-13 win-loss record, matching the legendary Bjorn Borg at the same stage of his career.
Victory thrust Alcaraz into a clash for a place in the quarter-finals with American 19th seed Tommy Paul, who progressed when Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired with an apparent knee injury when two sets down.
"It wasn't easy. To be honest, when you play someone like Corentin you don't know what's going to be next," said the 22-year-old Alcaraz, who is attempting to clinch the one major missing from his collection.
"But I had fun on the court. I think we both pulled off great shots, great points."
Women's top seed Sabalenka did not have it easy against unseeded Russian-born Anastasia Potapova of Austria, pulling through 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (9/7) in just over two nervy hours.
The Belarusian is trying to win the title for a third time in four years, having been stunned in last year's final by Madison Keys.
"I was always on the back foot, one of those days you have to fight to try and get the ball back," said the world number one.
"Emotionally I was all over the place," added the 27-year-old four-time Grand Slam champion, who faces Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in the last 16.
"It was such a fight and I really enjoyed it."
The 19-year-old Mboko defeated Clara Tauson of Denmark 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-3.
Gauff, the third seed, plays 19th seed Karolina Muchova next after beating fellow American Hailey Baptiste 3-6, 6-0, 6-3.
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