MELBOURNE, Australia -- The third round kicks off at Melbourne Park on Friday, and the best of the action is set to take place on Rod Laver Arena.

Local hope and 15th seed Ashleigh Barty is first up on center court, followed by Roger Federer, who faces American Taylor Fritz. A showdown between defending champion Caroline Wozniacki and former Australian Open winner Maria Sharapova will close out the day session.

The night matchups will feature Alex De Minaur, who takes on No. 2 Rafael Nadal, and Australian wild card Kimberly Birrell, who will face Angelique Kerber.

How to watch

Day session

ESPN3 & ESPN+: Starting at 7 p.m. ET

ESPN2: Starting at 11 p.m. ET

Night session

ESPN2: Starting at 3 a.m. ET

*Full Day 5 schedule here

Day 5 matches here

Key storylines

Federer to meet up-and-coming American Fritz

Roger Federer only faced Taylor Fritz once, and the American managed to take a set off the No. 3 seed. PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images

Six-time Australian Open winner Federer will need to overcome a challenge from world No. 50 Taylor Fritz if he is to advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open.

Fritz, 21, was outside the top 100 at the start of 2018 but has played impressive tennis in recent months. He beat No. 30 Gael Monfils and Cameron Norrie in the first two rounds here.

The pair have met just once, at Stuttgart in 2016, and while Federer won, Fritz did manage to take a set.

Sharapova clashes with defending champion Wozniacki

Maria Sharapova leads the head-to-head between these two players with six wins to Wozniacki's four. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Wozniacki faces 2008 winner Maria Sharapova, who has dropped just three games through two rounds.

It's also been a solid start for Wozniacki, who has lost just 11 games.

"I think her results, specifically in the past year, speak for her game, how she's been able to raise her level," Sharapova said. "I think the Grand Slam was the one trophy she was looking for. With determination she got there last year.

"She loves playing here, loves everything about this tournament. Certainly have a tough match ahead of me."

Sharapova is 6-4 lifetime against Wozniacki.

Aussies de Minaur and Birrell aim to dethrone No. 2 seeds

Australia's Alex de Minaur will need to play the match of his life to beat Rafael Nadal. DAVID GRAY/AFP/Getty Images

There are five Australians in the third round of their home Slam for the first time since 2004, but both de Minaur and wild card Birrell will need to play well in order to keep the party going.

Birrell, who defeated 29th seed Donna Vekic on Wednesday, has never faced Kerber on tour, while de Minaur was beaten by Nadal in straight sets at Wimbledon last year.