Aussie wrap, Day 3: Ash Barty, Alex de Minaur into the third round

MELBOURNE, Australia -- At the beginning of Day 3 there were eight locals hoping to book their place in the third round. By the end of the day, just three had advanced. Find out how all the Aussies went:

Ash Barty (AUS) def. Yafan Wang
6-2, 6-3

For the third consecutive year, Ash Barty breezed into the third round of the Australian Open.

The 15th seed was a class above Chinese opponent Yafan Wang on Rod Laver Arena, needing just one hour and five minutes to book her place in the final 32 of the tournament.

Unlike in her opener against Luksika Kumkhum, Barty began strongly, winning nine of her first 10 service points to race out to a 4-1 lead inside 15 minutes. Her serving was a feature throughout the match with Barty striking seven aces and winning 82 percent of points where her first serve landed.

"I felt like today was pretty clean," Barty said after the match. "I'm happy with the way I've started 2019, it's been a hell of a start."

Barty will play Greece's Maria Sakkari on Friday in the third round.

Alex de Minaur (AUS) def. Henri Laaksonen
6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3

There's just something about Alex de Minaur and five-setters at Melbourne Park. The 19-year-old has only been on tour a short time, but has already played -- and won -- both five-set encounters he's faced at the Australian Open.

But his latest marathon triumph over gutsy Swiss Henri Laaksonen wasn't always guaranteed, with Laaksonen snatching momentum late in the fourth heading into the fifth set. But in what has become a de Minaur trademark, his angular, lanky play pushed his opponent to all ends of the court, wearing him down and allowing the Aussie to snatch victory.

De Minaur sets up a massive third-round showdown with Rafael Nadal, who earlier in the evening secured a straightforward, straight-sets win over Australian journeyman Matthew Ebden.

Roberto Bautista Agut def. John Millman (AUS)
6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-7, 6-4

John Millman produced a typically Millman-like, gutsy performance against 22nd seed Roberto Bautista Agut, but ultimately fell short in a five-set epic which entranced fans throughout.

Two sets to love down, Millman fought back strongly in the third set, but in a fourth set tiebreaker found himself down four match points.

Millman -- with the support of a boisterous Melbourne Arena crowd -- dug deep and saved all four, before producing two more winners to send the match to a deciding set.

Unfortunately for the 2018 US Open quarterfinalist, Bautista Agut stepped up another gear, securing a 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-7, 6-4 victory. The Spaniard will play Karen Khachanov in the third round.