Sharapova, who won the title here in 2008 and has lost three finals – including last year’s decider to Serena Williams – advanced to the fourth round with a 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-1 on Friday, her 600th tour-level match win.
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No. 15 David Goffin beat No. 19 Dominic Thiem 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-5 – his first win against a top-20 player at a Grand Slam – to reach the fourth round in Melbourne for the first time.
Williams, who plays later Friday, has been a huge weight around Sharapova’s neck throughout her career, with the Russian unable to beat her since 2004. Sharapova will play Belarus’ Aliaksandra Sasnovich next, who defeated Evgeniya Rodina in her opening round match. “I felt I was more confident with my left hand today”, Sharapova, runner-up past year to Serena Williams, told reporters.
“You’re aware of it – I’m a veteran so I”, don’t get distracted, Federer said.
Puig kept pace through the first eight games before the fourth-seeded Radwanska was finally able to break her and take the opening set.
Other seeded players advancing included No. 6 Tomas Berdych, No. 7 Kei Nishikori and 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic. “It’s a tough fourth round”, she said.
Appearing in her third Open, the Swiss teen struggled early to find her rhythm on Rod Laver Arena.
Sharapova now heads into the second week with some daunting obstacles looming in her path. “But I think I’ve been fortunate in my career to have won Grand Slams and to kind of have a bigger picture of my goals, sometimes not focus on so many tournaments, not focus on rankings, and focus on being healthy-which is really, really important at a high professional sport”.
She continued to pressure the Davis serve and got a break in the third game of the second set.
The set second started as the first finished with the Russian dominant, immediately breaking to pile all the pressure on Hibino, who has progressively climbed the rankings since her WTA debut in 2012.
Unbeknownst to Sharapova, it was also the 600th match win of her career.
Despite her vast experience, Sharapova admitted to some nerves going into the match – her first of the season. “Is this friendly reminder that I’m getting old?”
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has the distinction of winning the first completed match at the 2016 Australian Open, avenging a loss to Luksika Kumkhum from two years ago.
Lauren Davis was a little hungry after edging Maria Sharapova in a tight, second-set tiebreaker on Rod Laver Arena, so she chose to have a little snack in her courtside chair.
Given the seesawing fortunes of this popular 28-year-old, that is some achievement, whatever the end result in this her 49th Grand Slam.
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Radwanska received treatment for a calf issue during her match against Monica Puig on Margaret Court Arena, but had little trouble overcoming the Puerto Rican 6-4 6-0.
