When Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova departed Melbourne Park early on day three, it seemed the pattern of a host of top women's seeds dropping out of the slam in the early rounds was set to continue. 
But wins later on Wednesday for leading chances Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, along with seeds Roberta Vinci, Carla Saurez Navarro and teenager Belinda Bencic restored the balance somewhat in the women's game.
Twelve of the women's 32 seeds were sent packing in the first round on Monday and Tuesday as the Australian Open kept up its reputation as the most dangerous slam for the world's best, particularly those women who are seeking to keep a firm footing near the top of the rankings.
Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko became latest player to cause an upset at Melbourne Park, sending 23rd seed and two-time slam winner Kuznetsova packing after their second round Australian Open clash.
World No.92 Bondarenko broke through for her first win over the Russian with a 6-1, 7-5 victory.
It looked like Bondarenko would wrap it up comfortably, leading 4-1 in the second, but Kuznetsova, US Open winner in 2004 and French Open champion in 2009, clawed her way back to 5-5.
Bondarenko, who took time off the tour to have a daughter in 2013, broke her opponent and then served out the match.
The result matches Bondarenko's previous best performance at Melbourne Park, reaching the third round in 2009. She won the Australian Open women's doubles with her sister Alona in 2008.
In other matches on Wednesday, young Swiss Bencic's hopes of matching her mentor Martina Hingis's record as a grand slam winner at 16 are long gone but the 18-year-old can still make her mark down under.
There hasn't been a teenage champion in the women's game since a 19-year-old Sharapova won the US Open back in 2006 and, as the only seed yet to hit her 20s, Bencic is the best chance.
Bencic booked her first third-round appearance at the Australian Open by sweeping aside Hungarian Timea Babos 6-3, 6-3. The world No.13 next faces Ukrainian veteran Kateryna Bondarenko.
Bencic started the year in impressive form, reaching the semi-finals against Monica Puig in Sydney before being forced to withdraw mid-match with illness.
Bencic was completely recovered and felt her game was in good shape.
"It's nice to be in the third round here," said Bencic, who was watched in the stands by compatriot Martina Hingis.
"I think I served really good and I played a solid match but I feel like I can improve even more so I think that's a positive."
While there are obvious comparisons to the original Swiss Miss Hingis, who won five grand slam titles, Bencic said she wasn't putting too much pressure on herself.
"Obviously it's a great honour being described as like her and we have a similar game and I practice with her mother," Bencic said. "But I'm playing on my own."