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Top 5 Photos 1/12: Serena wins 360th Grand Slam match

By Jordaan Sanford

Fans soaked up another action-packed day of play, but with Australia’s Victoria State heading into a five-day lockdown due to a COVID-19 outbreak, the next five days will resemble the fan-less sights seen at most tournaments over the past year.

These are the Top 5 Photos the sum up Friday's action:

1

Serena Williams

Serena wasn't playing her best and struggled to find her rhythm against a hungry-to-win Anastasia Potapova. In the end, the 23-time Grand Slam champion found a way to capture the extremely tight opening set and eventually claim a 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory.

The 39-year-old's win happens to be her 360th major match win and puts her just behind Roger Federer for the all-time record. It was also her 90th Australian Open win.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 12: Serena Williams of the United States reacts in her Women's Singles third round match against Anastasia Potapova of Russia during day five of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 12, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
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2

Grigor Dimitrov

The Bulgarian waved to the crowd following a quick day at the office. Leading, 6-1, 1-0, his opponent Pablo Carreno Busta was forced to retire from their third-round clash in Melbourne. The world No. 21 is through to his sixth Round of 16 showing Down Under, and will face Dominic Thiem next.

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov waves as he wears a face mask with his national flag while arriving for his men's singles match against Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 12, 2021. (Photo by David Gray / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images)
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3

Aryna Sabalenka

The Belarusian was on a 15-match winning streak before she fell in her opening round at the Gippsland Trophy event in Melbourne to Kaia Kanepi last week. Having won 17 of her last 18 matches, it's no surprise the world No. 7 is through to the round of 16 after dismissing Ann Li 6-3, 6-1 in one hour.

The 22-year-old will be making only her second round of 16 appearance at a major and will battle Serena for the first time on Saturday.

Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts on a point against Ann Li of the US during their women's singles match on day five of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 12, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
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4

Garbine Muguruza

It was another routine win for the Spaniard as she quickly defeated Zarina Diyas 6-1, 6-1. Last year's finalist has yet to drop a set, but will have some work ahead of her as she will faces Noami Osaka next. Remarkably, they have never played each other before.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 12: Garbine Muguruza of Spain plays a forehand in her Women's Singles third round match against Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan during day five of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 12, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
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5

Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hughes Hubert

The Frenchmen soared past German duo Yannick Hanfmann and Kevin Krawietz 7-5, 6-3. The 2019 Aussie Open winners will take on Marc Polmans and James Duckworth for a spot in the third round.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 12: Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut of France talk tactics in their Men's Doubles second round match against Yannick Hanfmann and Kevin Krawietz of Germany during day five of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 12, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
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