The eighth-seeded Spaniard, who ended Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt’s career in the second round, overwhelmed Steve Johnson of the United States 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday.
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Osaka, who was born in the city of the same name, is surprised at how many Japanese have been pouring into Melbourne Park to back her on her Grand Slam debut.
“Yeah, I’d like to see a little more, watch her play her match”, Nishikori said.
The 127th-ranked Osaka, appearing in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time, underlined her exciting potential with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of 18th seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine yesterday.
Asked what was the key lesson learned from the encounter, she replied: “Probably just learn how to enjoy the moment, because I was tense from the very start”.
“In the first set I was sore but after treatment I felt better”, he said.
During her post match press conference, Azarenka was asked if this was the best she’s ever played at the Australian Open, where she’s won two titles.
“I knew this was going to be a tough match from the beginning”, Isner, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, said in his on-court interview.
It’s the fourth year in a row Wawrinka has made it to the fourth round at Melbourne Park.
There are three Australian Open champions remaining in the women’s draw – six-time victor Serena Williams and 2008 victor Maria Sharapova are on the other half and could meet in the quarterfinals.
Azarenka was just warming up and she began turning on the style with some blistering forehands and effective net work to break again in the fourth game and again in the seventh.
Garbine Muguruza, left, of Spain congratulates Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic following their third round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016. “Today’s victory was for that community, and a quick recovery and all of Canada, and I’m sure the world is behind you”.
The 31-year-old could be forgiven, however, as their match on court 19 took three hours, 37 minutes. Former Wimbledon finalist and 22-year-old Muguruza, seeded third here, plays Barbora Strycova.
“It wasn’t easy, especially against someone I had not played before”. Muguruza couldn’t find her form in the match, hitting 32 unforced errors to Strycova’s 16.
Azarenka hammered Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic 6-1, 6-2 yesterday to progress to the third round, following up on her dominant “double bagel” 6-0, 6-0 first-round win against Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck. No. 2 Simona Halep went out in the first round, while No. 3 Garbine Muguruza lost in the third round in the match before 14th-seeded Azarenka went on court.
“I think she has an interesting game”.
Johanna Konta, who beat Venus Williams last Tuesday, became the first British woman to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open since Jo Durie in 1987, giving the Brits and Aussies something to celebrate.
No. 9 Karolina Pliskova fell to No. 21 Ekaterina Makarova similarly, in a 6-3, 6-2 straight set loss.
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“We also played at the French past year”, Murray said.
