Azarenka, Kerber Set Up Australian Open Quarterfinal Clash

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka pushed her way into the Australian Open quarterfinals on Monday, moving past the Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova, 6-2, 6-4.

While Strycova hit 23 winners to Azarenka’s 15, she also committed 33 unforced errors, and failed to capitalize on either of her two break point chances. On the other side, Azarenka committed just 14 unforced errors and won three of her seven break point chances.

“I was more focused on staying focused because she’s a type of player that throws you a lot off your rhythm,” said Azarenka. “I was just trying to focus more on execution and be aggressive and follow my game plan from the first point to the last. But I think I played pretty well there. There are things I could have done better. But overall, pretty solid.”

This is the third consecutive year Azarenka has ousted Strycova from the Australian Open.

Up next for the 14th seed from Belarus is seventh-seeded German Angelique Kerber, who beat fellow German Annika Beck 6-4, 6-0 in her fourth round match on Monday. 

“It was a tough match. The first set was very close, three breaks, so I was trying to stay in the match, try to be aggressive and take my moments,” said Kerber. “I was happy I won the first set and tried to really be aggressive in the first few games in the second set.”

Azarenka is 6-0 all-time against Kerber.

Chinese qualifier Shuai Zhang continued her run in Melbourne, coming back from a set down to beat 15th seeded American Madison Keys, who was clearly dealing with an injury, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

“It’s so tough to play against some injured,” Zhang said. “Maybe two points you’re feeling like you cannot play, and the next three balls, pong, pong, pong, you make two aces, one winner. You don’t know what’s going to happen. And also, last year this happened many times, and I’d almost win the match, but then I’d lose. But this time, I really tried to concentrate, and I’m happy I won.”

Zhang will take on Great Britain’s Johanna Konta, who became the first British woman to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals since Jo Durie in 1983, with a 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 comeback win over Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova.

“I’m just incredibly happy and humbled with the way I competed today,” said Konta. “That’s the thing I’m most happy about. The fact that it is the Australian Open and it was the fourth round, that’s pretty cool. But yea, just given the situation, given the toughness of the match and my opponent, I’m just really happy with how I was able to handle things and to keep trekking on.”

Zhang and Konta have played twice before, with each notching one victory.