In the night session, Novak Djokovic earned his place in the fourth round with a straight-set victory over Czech player Tomas Machac.
The Serb appeared exhausted at times in the match and needed a medical timeout during the second set but came through 6-1 6-4 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.
The match had been billed as a potential stumbling block for the seventh seed, but a tally of 35 unforced errors from 26th seed Machac accounted for over a third of Djokovic’s points.
“I was slightly surprised with the result and to beat him in straight sets,” Djokovic said.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who is aiming to win a record 25th major and 11th title in Melbourne, took the first set with ease.
However, a series of intense rallies and an early break of serve against him in the second set left Djokovic needing to use an inhaler and requiring a medical timeout.
“I was trying to catch my breath. I struggled a little bit. I’m not 19 years old any more you know and you go through different stages in a match,” he said.
A fired-up Djokovic powered to victory with a dominant performance in the third set, spurred on by frustration at spectators in the crowd who kept calling out during points.
Djokovic will face Czech 24th seed Jiri Lehecka in the last 16 before a potentially mouth-watering clash with Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, American 12th seed Tommy Paul beat Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 (7-0) 6-2 6-0 while Frenchman Ugo Humbert progressed after compatriot Arthur Fils withdrew because of injury early in the fourth set of their match.
