MELBOURNE (AFP) – Japanese US Open champion Naomi Osaka ground her way into an Australian Open quarterfinal with sixth seed Elina Svitolina Monday ahead of Serena Williams facing her biggest tennis test since giving birth.
As the second week of the opening Grand Slam of the year got underway, fourth seed Osaka was still standing after emerging from an error-strewn first set against crafty Latvian Anastasija Sevastova to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The victory left the bubbly 21-year-old with a last-eight clash against ambitious Ukrainian Svitolina, who battled past American Madison Keys, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1.
It will be a new experience for whoever wins that showdown, with neither of them going beyond the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park before.
This contrasts with the massively experienced Williams who has made the last eight or better 11 times on her way to seven Australian Open crowns.
The 37-year-old 23-time Grand Slam winner has a blockbuster last-16 evening clash against world number one Simona Halep on Rod Laver Arena, while Novak Djokovic meets fast-rising Daniil Medvedev.
Osaka beat Williams to clinch the title at Flushing Meadows last year. It propelled her to stardom, but she has been far from convincing at her first major since.
RAONIC STUNS ZVEREV
Milos Raonic kept his cool to reach the quarterfinals as young Alexander Zverev went into meltdown and crashed out.
The fourth seed erupted in frustration and fury during the second set of a 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) drubbing by the Canadian 16th seed, hammering his racquet into the ground eight times to leave it a mangled mess.
Meantime, Czech seventh seed Karolina Pliskova also marched into the quarter finals with a 6-3, 6-1 win over 18th seed Garbine Muguruza of Spain.
