Alex de Minaur is through to the fourth round of his home grand slam for the third consecutive year, triumphing over Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli in straight-sets.
The Australian world number 10 needed two hours and seven minutes to claim the 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 victory at John Cain Arena.
De Minaur was far from his best on Friday, but was a step ahead of Cobolli who was never able to take advantage of the few opportunities he was given by the Australian.
"He's a great competitor," de Minaur said.
"He shows what he's been able to do this whole tournament, coming to qualifying and getting to the third round, beating seeds and great players.
"A lot of respect to him and it was a great match."
The Australian is into the fourth round for the third consecutive time, but has not made a quarterfinal at his home slam.
The world number 10 said to make a deep run in this year's Australian Open he will need to trust his game, which has resulted in three wins over top 10 opponents already this year.
"We're getting to the tail end of the tournament and the matches are definitely going to be very tough," he said.
"I'm looking forward to it. I've played some great tennis, I've started the year amazingly and hopefully I can keep it going in front of you guys.
"It's all going to come down to the level I bring to the following match.
"I've got to back myself up, I've got to believe, I've got to play positive tennis the way I've done this whole year."
The opening set remained on serve through the first five games before three consecutive service games were broken, leaving de Minaur 5-3 up and serving for the set.
The Australian made no mistake with ball in hand, wrapping up the set with an ace down the middle.
De Minaur had seven winners to four in the first set, and 10 unforced errors compared to the Italian's 14.
The Australian took firm control of the match by winning the second set 6-3, but he was not at his best.
De Minaur was 2-12 on break points in the second set — needing nine break points in the third game before finally securing the win.
The third set was much improved from the Australian, who took an early break and raced out to a 3-0 lead before Cobolli called for a medical timeout to have an issue with his upper right leg addressed.
The timeout brought only a slight halt to de Minaur's momentum, who would claim another break on his way to claiming the final set 6-1.
De Minaur will face Andrey Rublev on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Storm Hunter's career-best singles grand slam performance came to an end in an enthralling three-set encounter.
Hunter, in her maiden third round of a grand slam, won the opening set against Czech ninth-seed Barbora Krejcikova, but was run down in a match that finished past midnight, 4-6, 7-5. 6-3.
The Australian had chances to break in the second set but could not convert, and was then outclassed by her more fancied opponent in the deciding set.
Hunter fought until the final point, with a passionate crowd at Rod Laver Arena barracking for her until the end.
Keep across all the latest from Melbourne Park in our blog below, check out live scores with our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
Key events
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Live updates
Australians on court today
- Alex De Minaur (10) def Flavio Cobolli (Q) 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
- Barbora Krejcikova (9) def Storm Hunter (Q) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
We will leave the blog there
Another wonderful evening of tennis from Melbourne Park.
Alex de Minaur and Novak Djokovic are through.
Storm Hunter was brilliant in defeat.
We will be back tomorrow with more live coverage of the Australian Open.
Barbora Krejcikova defeats Storm Hunter 4-6, 7-5. 6-3
The Czech ninth-seed has come through and got the win.
It took around two hours and 30 minutes of terrific tennis.
Well done Storm Hunter, you were magnificent.
Krejcikova serving for the match
It is still just one break.
Storm Hunter has not given up.
She is down 3-5 and Krejcikova is serving for the match.
Krejcikova breaks Hunter's first service game in the third set
Danger for Storm Hunter.
Krejcikova is coming alive at the back end of this match.
The Queenslander will need to find something within herself to turn the tide.
Alex de Minaur will face Andrey Rublev in the fourth round
Krejcikova breaks Hunter and wins the second set
Class from the ninth seed.
She faced two break points in the 11th game but salvaged the win.
Krejcikova then pressured Hunter's serve and broke her.
We are going to a third.
Krejcikova saves two break points. Leads second set 6-5
Oh, Storm Hunter almost had the all-important break.
Credit to Krejcikova who served out of trouble.
Hunter is serving to send the second set to a tie breaker.
Hunter and Krejcikova locked at 5-5
Storm Hunter has produced some winners which are out of this world
Who blinks first?
Tension on Rod Laver as Hunter and Krejcikova are locked at 3-3
We are on serve in the second set.
Both women are holding serve well.
Go, Hunter go!
French 20th seed Adrian Mannarino defeats Ben Shelton in five sets
The Frenchman loves the marathon.
He wins a third consecutive five-set battle, defeating American16th seed Ben Shelton.
Storm Hunter wins the opening set against Barbora Krejcikova
The last Aussie woman in the draw is a set away from the fourth round.
The qualifier wins a back-and-forth opening set 6-4.
Krejcikova broke twice, but Hunter took three service games off the ninth seed.
How did the all-Aussie men's doubles go?
Did the Ausie guys win the doubles
- John
Hey John.
In the men's double today we had success:
- Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler defeated fellow countryman Chris O'Connell and his Serbian partner Laslo Djere.
- Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson beat Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler.
It was not all good news for the all-Aussie duos.
- John Millman and Edward Winter went down to fellow Aussie Matthew Ebden and his Indian partner Rohan Bopanna.
- Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alexei Popyrin were beaten by Aussie John-Patrick Smith and German Andreas Mies
Hunter and Krejcikova trading blows early
It is back and forth so far between the Australian Hunter and the ninth seed Krejcikova.
Both players have broken each other twice.
It is 3-3 and we are on serve.
Qualifier Timofeeva knocks out 10th seed Haddad Maia
Here is a result I am sure many would not have seen coming.
20-year-old Russian qualifier Maria Timofeeva has bundled out Brazilian 10th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight-sets.
The scoreline will read 7-6(9/7), 6-3, but that does not do the first set any justice.
Timofeeva was down 0-3 in the set, and then 1-4 in the tie breaker, but rallied to win.
Storm Hunter (Q) vs Barbora Krejcikova (9)
Djokovic reflects on his tennis journey
It was his 100th match at Melbourne Park on his 19th year here.
When asked, Novak reflected on the sacrifices of his parents which gave him opportunities as a child.
Coming from Serbia during [the] 90s wasn't easy for my family.
My parents endured a lot of adversity, economically and in every sense, in order for me to live my dream.
Novak says this was his best performace this tournament
Novak Djokovic is speaking on court after his win.
"I think the best performance I had during this tournament," he says.
"I am pleased with the way I played through the entire match, particularly the first two sets."
Novak Djokovic wins in straight-sets
Novak Djokovic's 100th Australian Open match is a success, defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(7/2).