Australian Open: Resurgent Azarenka at ominous best
Former world number one sets up quarter-final clash with Kerber
Melbourne Park has been a happy hunting ground for Azarenka, who has now made the quarters or better five times in her last seven attempts. PHOTO: AFP
MELBOURNE:
Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka remained in ominous form on Monday as she surged into an Australian Open quarter-final against Angelique Kerber, as Britain ended a 33-year wait to make the last-eight.
Former world number one Azarenka proved too strong for Czech Barbora Strycova on Rod Laver Arena, storming through 6-2, 6-4 to set up a last-eight clash with Kerber, who beat fellow German Annika Beck 6-4, 6-0. Azarenka, the 14th seed who won at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013, has a 6-0 record over Kerber, including in the Brisbane International final this month, making her a hot favourite to keep her title run going.
“I’m looking forward to it. She’s a fighter and such a nice person,” said the Belarusian, looking ahead to the test on Wednesday. “I’ll just give it my best and I’m sure she’ll do the same.”
Azarenka, 27, has been in the zone at Melbourne Park, dropping just 11 games in four matches as she zeroes in on a return to the top after battling injuries for the past two years.
Australian Open: Melbourne all set for Serena, Sharapova showdown
Seventh seed Kerber powered past Beck to reach the quarter-finals for the first time and knows she has a formidable task ahead against a player who has won each of their encounters dating back to 2012.
Johanna Konta joined them to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final and become the first Britain’s first woman to reach the Australian Open last eight Jo Durie in 1983.
Konta prevailed in a three-hour, four-minute slugfest 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 against Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova, a semi-finalist last year. The only other British women to get as far were Virginia Wade, who won in 1972, and Sue Barker who made the semis twice.
Drained Murray overcomes ‘scary’ family drama
An emotionally drained Andy Murray beat Bernard Tomic to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, easing the stress of a difficult few days after the collapse of his father-in-law.
Australian Open: Murray beats Sousa despite father-in-law collapsing
The British world number two downed the 16th-seeded Tomic 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in two hours, 30 minutes to end home interest in the tournament and set up a last-eight match with Spanish eighth seed David Ferrer.
It will be the seventh consecutive quarter-final in Melbourne for Murray, who is bidding to finally win the title for the first time after four runner-up finishes.
“It was just a tough, emotional few days at a difficult time,” Murray told reporters, adding that he considered withdrawing from the tournament. “I woke up feeling quite drained, quite tired today. As the day went on and I decided to play, I started to focus a little bit better.”
Meanwhile, Canada’s Milos Raonic fought off a comeback by 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka in a tense five-setter before taking a major scalp and reaching his second straight Australian Open quarter-final, where he will face Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Australian Open: Spirited Federer bags record 300th Grand Slam match win
Monfils said he was lucky not to break any bones after a trademark acrobatic dive left him with a deep cut and bruises on the way to his first Australian Open quarter-final Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2016.
Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka remained in ominous form on Monday as she surged into an Australian Open quarter-final against Angelique Kerber, as Britain ended a 33-year wait to make the last-eight.
Former world number one Azarenka proved too strong for Czech Barbora Strycova on Rod Laver Arena, storming through 6-2, 6-4 to set up a last-eight clash with Kerber, who beat fellow German Annika Beck 6-4, 6-0. Azarenka, the 14th seed who won at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013, has a 6-0 record over Kerber, including in the Brisbane International final this month, making her a hot favourite to keep her title run going.
“I’m looking forward to it. She’s a fighter and such a nice person,” said the Belarusian, looking ahead to the test on Wednesday. “I’ll just give it my best and I’m sure she’ll do the same.”
Azarenka, 27, has been in the zone at Melbourne Park, dropping just 11 games in four matches as she zeroes in on a return to the top after battling injuries for the past two years.
Australian Open: Melbourne all set for Serena, Sharapova showdown
Seventh seed Kerber powered past Beck to reach the quarter-finals for the first time and knows she has a formidable task ahead against a player who has won each of their encounters dating back to 2012.
Johanna Konta joined them to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final and become the first Britain’s first woman to reach the Australian Open last eight Jo Durie in 1983.
Konta prevailed in a three-hour, four-minute slugfest 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 against Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova, a semi-finalist last year. The only other British women to get as far were Virginia Wade, who won in 1972, and Sue Barker who made the semis twice.
Drained Murray overcomes ‘scary’ family drama
An emotionally drained Andy Murray beat Bernard Tomic to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, easing the stress of a difficult few days after the collapse of his father-in-law.
Australian Open: Murray beats Sousa despite father-in-law collapsing
The British world number two downed the 16th-seeded Tomic 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in two hours, 30 minutes to end home interest in the tournament and set up a last-eight match with Spanish eighth seed David Ferrer.
It will be the seventh consecutive quarter-final in Melbourne for Murray, who is bidding to finally win the title for the first time after four runner-up finishes.
“It was just a tough, emotional few days at a difficult time,” Murray told reporters, adding that he considered withdrawing from the tournament. “I woke up feeling quite drained, quite tired today. As the day went on and I decided to play, I started to focus a little bit better.”
Meanwhile, Canada’s Milos Raonic fought off a comeback by 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka in a tense five-setter before taking a major scalp and reaching his second straight Australian Open quarter-final, where he will face Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Australian Open: Spirited Federer bags record 300th Grand Slam match win
Monfils said he was lucky not to break any bones after a trademark acrobatic dive left him with a deep cut and bruises on the way to his first Australian Open quarter-final Monday.
The athletic Frenchman went airborne for an unsuccessful baseline volley during his four-set battle with Russia’s Andrey Kuznetsov, to excited applause from the crowd.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2016.