Leylah Fernandez already has guaranteed her best career finish at the Australian Open.
Now, she hopes to keep the good times rolling.
The Canadian booked a spot in the third round with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Spain's Cristina Bucsa on Wednesday.
A rain delay of about 15 minutes started at an inopportune time as Fernandez led 15-40 with the score tied at 4-4 and Bucsa serving in the third set. But the Canadian got the first point when play resumed to record the decisive break.
Fernandez is now 2-0 lifetime against the 110th-ranked Bucsa, who lost against the Canadian in the round of 32 at last year's Paris Olympics.
She finished with more winners (30-13) and saved seven of 10 break points, compared to her opponent's six of nine.
The victory marks the first time that the Laval, Que., athlete has made it to the third round of the Grand Slam event at Melbourne Park.
Fernandez next will face the winner of a match between No. 3 seed Coco Gauff of the U.S. and Jodie Burrage of Great Britain.
Meanwhile, Auger-Aliassime, who was coming off a title at the Adelaide International, dropped a 6-7 (9), 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 decision to Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in second-round play.
In women's doubles on Tuesday, the second-seeded Gabriela Dabrowski of Ottawa and partner Erin Routliffe of New Zealand dropped their opening set 6-4 to Americans Danielle Collins and Desirae Krawczyk, but bounced back with 6-4, 6-3 victories to advance.
The Americans had more aces (5-4) and fewer double faults (2-0), but Dabrowski and Routliffe held the advantage in wins off the first serve, unforced errors (10-9) and receiving points (38-30) in the two-hour, 10-minute round of 64 match.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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