Popular Belarusian Victoria Azarenka has rolled on at the Australian Open after booking a quarterfinal meeting with Angelique Kerber courtesy of a straight-sets win over Barbora Strycova.
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The two-time champion knocked Strycova out of the year's first grand slam for the third straight year thanks to a 6-2 6-4 victory on Rod Laver Arena on Monday.
Azarenka, the 14th seed in Melbourne, clinched the Brisbane International title in the lead-up and is yet to drop a set this year.
She meets Kerber, who she thrashed in the final in Brisbane, in a last-eight clash in a bottom half of the draw that has opened right up following the exits of Simona Halep and Venus Williams among others.
Strycova, now 0-5 against Azarenka, tried to impose herself more than she often does, but her unforced errors were costly as she missed out on a second grand slam quarter-final appearance.
For Azarenka, she is into the last eight in Melbourne for a fifth time. Strycova was steady early, and came from 0-40 down to hold in the third game, but her aggression – and errors – were her undoing as Azarenka broke for 3-2.
Azarenka has been broken just once at the tournament and lost no more than three games in a set this year, but the latter changed in the second set. She was challenged when serving at 4-3 before Strycova made her serve it out, and she had no trouble doing so.
Kerber, who has never beaten Azarenka, will hope her time has come after a 6-4 6-0 win over fellow German Annika Beck saw her reach the quarterfinals in Melbourne for the first time.