Konta’s latest excursion Down Under since swapping Aussie to represent GB sees her face Denisa Allertova as she bids to equal her best run at a Grand Slam by progressing to the last 16.
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And Roberta Vinci was knocked out by Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam in three sets, meaning there will be no rematch of last year’s US Open semi-final when she halted Williams’ bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam. “Today’s victory was for that community, and a quick recovery and all of Canada, and I’m sure the world is behind you”.
Asked what her daily routine had been during an excellent first week, Konta said: “I have been going to Hunky Dory a lot”. It will be interesting to watch six-time Australian Open victor play Margarita Gasparyan who recorded a big win against 17th seed Sara Errani in the first round.
“If they’re in form, they go through that little gap and I think here for Jo, playing like she is at the moment, that’s definitely possible, why not?”
Just like in her first two rounds, Williams didn’t just turn heads with her game, she turned heads with her outfit.
The in-form Pole, who won the Shenzhen Open this month, played a faultless second set to beat the 22-year-old 6-4, 6-0 in 76 minutes on Margaret Court Arena.
Last summer, Konta lost to Allertova in the opening round of the French Open, but from the first ball, there was never any indication that lightning could strike twice as the Sydney-born player broke Allertova’s serve in the opening game.
Belinda Bencic secured her place in the fourth round and then enjoyed watching Radwanska put on a show, tweeting: “Just love watching @ARadwanska play!! Everything I’ve been trying to work on was kind of clicking”.
“I’ve been on tour for a long time”, said the 34-year-old Williams, who is appearing in her 62nd Grand Slam.
“I always think of classic, so I wanted a pleated skirt because a pleated skirt is very classic”. Swiss great Roger Federer swept past Grigor Dimitrov to bring up 300 Grand Slam match wins and safely reach the fourth round at the Australian Open on Friday.
She meets qualifier Naomi Osaka having dropped only three games so far in completing a 6-0 6-0 win over Alison Van Uytvanck in the first round and a 6-1 6-2 success against Danka Kovinic in the second. I’ve been wearing so many different designs.
In defeating Czech Denisa Allertova, Konta became the British woman to make the fourth round of the Australian Open since Jo Durie and Anne Hobbs in 1987. Next up could be Maria Sharapova in a replay of last year’s final, won by Williams.
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It wasn’t vintage Serena but even operating at 50 percent she was too good for Gasparyan and a rout was on the cards.
