Defending champion Victoria Azarenka set up an Australian Open rematch with Sloane Stephens yesterday after dropping just one game in a straight-sets demolition of unseeded Yvonne Meusburger yesterday.
The second-seeded Belarusian blasted past the Austrian 6-1, 6-0 and will tomorrow face the American for a place in the tournament’s quarter-finals.
It will be the first time they have met since their controversial last-four clash at Melbourne Park last year.
During that match, Azarenka walked off court for a medical timeout after Stephens had saved five match points and broken the Belarusian in the second set.
She returned after a slow hand clap from the crowd and Stephens won only three more points, losing 6-1, 6-4 and leading to accusations of gamesmanship from some quarters.
Azarenka later said she was being bothered by a rib injury and insisted the incident was firmly in the past.
“I don’t really think about what happened last year. I know it’s going to be a tough match because I feel we both improved,” she said.
“So, you know, I’m just looking forward to take that challenge. It’s going to be interesting for me.”
Elsewhere, in the women’s draw yesterday, Caroline Wozniacki was in a philosophical mood after seeing her hopes of winning a first grand slam title end as she was beaten 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 by unseeded Spanish qualifier Garbine Muguruza.
The 10th seed said: “Sometimes it happens, you just don’t take your chances. I don’t think I did anything particularly wrong.
“I thought she played some great tennis, as well. It was just a bit unlucky.”
In the men’s draw, there was little alarm for world No 1 Rafael Nadal as he sauntered past the challenge of world No 25 Gael Monfils with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 win, and the Spaniard said: “It’s just one very good day. That makes me feel confident, but I am in fourth round. That’s all.”
There were also straight sets wins for Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.