Azarenka Routs Wozniacki, While Williams Sisters Advance Down Under

In one of the most intriguing second-round matches in recent Grand Slam history, it was the unseeded Victoria Azarenka who came out on top, defeating the eighth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the Australian Open’s third round.

The two-time Australian Open champion broke Wozniacki in the match’s opening game and broke again in the third game to take a 3-0 lead. From there, she used her strong forehand to hold off the Dane and take the first set 6-4.

If Wozniacki had any hopes of making a push in the second, the Belarus native Azarenka quickly put an end to that. She didn’t allow Wozniacki a single break point opportunity in the second frame and had a 2-to-1 winner to unforced error ratio, allowing her to cruise to a 98 minute victory.

“She had such an incredible end of last season I knew I had to step up my game and really take my chances today,” said Azarenka. “She’s capable of doing pretty much anything on the court. She’s not going to give anything away. She’s really going to try to make you miss and go for bigger shots. When you face somebody who is that good, you have to raise your level, as well.”

Azarenka definitely did raise her level and has not looked like an unseeded player through her first two matches in Melbourne.

“I knew that I’m unseeded so I can play anybody,” said Azarenka. “I just accept whoever is on the opposite side.”

Standing across the net from her in the third-round will be 25th seeded Czech Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova, who raced past Chinese Taipei’s Kai Chen-Chang 6-1, 7-5.

Both Serena and Venus Williams bulldozed their way into the third-round. World number one Serena had to dig herself out of a hole in the first set, facing three set points down 3-5, but rallied to take the set and the match 7-5, 6-0.

“That’s the one thing about the Grand Slams. You have to be ready for anyone at any stage,” said Serena of staying focused round to round. “And playing Vera is like, I had to get my mind like, ‘Serena this girl has been ranked as high as number two in the world, she’s been on the tour and she’s a very quality player, she knows what to do. She knows how to win.’ So I had to kind of snap into that kind of mentality on the court today.”

Serena hopes for a faster start when she takes on 26th seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in the next round. Svitolina edged American Nicole Gibbs in two tiebreaks to come out on top 7-6(3), 7-6(6).

Venus had an easier time in her match Thursday, routing fellow American Lauren Davis 6-2, 6-3 to push through.

“She actually hits the ball quite powerfully and she’s very aggressive,” said Venus. “I think she played even more aggressively than when we played in Auckland. I think maybe her strategy was to try and take control of the points. So I had to play some defense as well as some offense today.

It’s always good to advance. That’s pretty much the goal when you step on the court.”

The 18th seeded Williams is now 7-0 in 2015 which includes a title in Auckland. She will look to add to her good start when she meets Italian Camilia Gorgi at the next stage. Giorgi took care of the Czech Republic’s Tereza Smitkova 6-1, 6-4.

Americans Madison Keys and Coco Vandeweghe disappointed a number of Australian fans as each knocked out a seeded Australian player to advance to the third-round in Melbourne.

Keys took on 29th seeded Casey Dellacqua. The American looked flat early and dropped the opening frame 2-6 before storming back with 6-1, 6-1 wins in the final two sets. In the last two sets, Keys broke Dellacqua five times in nine chances as the Australian hit just seven winners and had 24 unforced errors.

The 19-year old Keys draws a tough assignment in the third-round. She will take on fourth-seeded Petra Kvitova. The Czech has looked outstanding in her matches in 2015, and had no trouble with Mona Barthel on Thursday, routing the German 6-2, 6-4.

Vandeweghe ousted former US Open champion and 20th seeded Samantha Stosur with a 6-4, 6-4 victory. She did not even allow Stosur a break point opportunity and was able to get past the Australian in one hour and 17 minutes.

Up next for the 23-year old is fellow American Madison Brengle, who broke serve five times to move past another American in Irina Falconi 6-1, 6-3.

The 30th seeded American Varvara Lepchenko downed Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1, 7-6(7-1) and will meet sixth-seeded Agnieska Radwanska next. The Pole made quick work of Sweden’s Johanna Larsson with a 6-0, 6-1 victory.

11th seeded Dominka Cibulkova, 19th seeded Alize Cornet and 24th seeded Garbine Muguruza all advanced to the third-round as well on Thursday.

Click here for all the results from Day Four at the Australian Open.