MELBOURNE, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- It was an action-packed fifth day at the Australian Open with a host of shock exits, some mastery from Nadal and Federer and the emergence of two American youngsters who have taken the tournament by storm.
Friday's third round matches saw 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer continue his winning form with a flawless straight sets victory over Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-2, while long-time rival Rafael Nadal also made it look easy against rising Australian star Alex de Minaur, shutting the 19-year-old out 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
Veteran Tomas Berdych got the win against Diego Schwartzman in four sets 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 and Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov had too much firepower for Thomas Fabbiano, taking a win in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4.
In other men's singles contests, Stefanos Tsitsipas survived a fiery affair against Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 and Roberto Bautista Agut was too good for Karen Khachanov, winning in straight sets 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.
Last year's tournament finalist Marin Cilic edged past gritty Spanish challenger Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8), 6-3 after dropping the first two sets.
And in what was perhaps the match of the day, American 20-year-old Frances Tiafoe came back from two sets to one down to win over Italian veteran Andreas Seppi 6-7 (3), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
In the women's bracket, another young American talent would also make waves.
17-year-old Amanda Anisimova shocked the tennis world when she blasted her way through 11th seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 6-2.
Last year's winner Caroline Wozniacki also bowed out of the tournament after succumbing to the power-hitting of five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova in a highly entertaining tussle that finished 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
No such problems for world No. 2 Angelique Kerber however, as she dispatched Australia's Kimberly Birrell 6-1, 6-0.
Sloane Stephens also advanced against Petra Martic 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), while Petra Kvitova had too much for Belinda Bencic, winning 6-1, 6-4.
In other third round women's matches, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova thrashed Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-0, 6-3, local star Ashley Barty overcame a medical timeout from a hip injury to beat Maria Sakkari 7-5, 6-1, Danielle Rose Collins got the better of Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-2, and Garbine Muguruza was victorious in a tight battle against Johanna Konta 6-4, 6-7 (3), 7-5.
