Highly ranked players Ana Ivanovic and Flavia Pennetta were shock early exits from the tournament, but other big names have hardly been troubled on court as the women's draw narrows.

Bouchard struggled to find her rhythm in the first set against Caroline Garcia, who proved to be a tough opponent. But the popular Canadian from Montreal came out firing in the second after giving herself a stern talking-to during the break.

"I was disappointed, I know I can play so much better tennis," she said. "I just told myself, look, you have to start playing your best tennis now."

Garcia took Bouchard through enough long rallies to keep the crowd entertained during the second set, but did not make the most of her opportunities to hit winners, particularly at the net.

The Frenchwoman said her serve had let her down, and she lost to Bouchard 7-5, 6-0.

Bouchard will go on to play Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu, ranked 42, who beat Germany's Carina Witthoeft to reach the fourth round.

Usual suspects Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, ranked first and second in the world, have played well this Australian Open – Williams has not lost a set in the tournament and will play Ukrainian Elina Svitolina on Saturday, a match she will be the favourite to win.

Venus Williams is also in strikingly good form, despite not winning a grand slam since 2008, and last year's Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova has breezed through the first two rounds of competition.

But with two of Australia's best hopes in the women's draw – Samantha Stosur and Casey Dellacqua – out of the running, Simona Halep could be a good player to back for tennis fans who like to barrack for the underdog.

The young Romanian has been in brilliant form over the past year, making it to the French Open final, the Wimbledon semi-finals and the quarters at Melbourne Park.

But while she sits at number three in the world she has not yet won a grand slam.

Bouchard is already a favourite with Australian fans after reaching the semi-finals at the Australian Open last year, where she was beaten by Li Na, who went on to win the tournament.

She even has her own Australian cheer squad, the Genie Army, who dress in red and white and chant her name from the stands.

A commentator who interviewed Bouchard on court earlier this week created a stir when he asked her to "twirl" and talk about her outfit.

Although she seemed embarrassed at the time, Bouchard on Friday said she was not offended by the request.

But she did say she would like to see men and women players treated equally by the commentary team.

"I'm fine with being asked to twirl if they ask the guys to flex their muscles and stuff," Bouchard said.

"I think it was an in-the-moment thing and it was funny.

"It's just funny how it's taken a life of its own, I'm just going to try to focus on my tennis."

Bouchard said playing Garcia had been her biggest test in the tournament.

"We'll have some battles in the future, she's definitely going to be good," she said.

"I think it was good for me to match up against someone like that, and especially not playing so well, to really kind of dig myself through a win is one of those scrappy tough wins, in the first set at least; I was able to find my groove in the second."

Reigning champion Li Na retired from professional tennis at the end of last year.