Two-time Australian Open tennis champion Victoria Azarenka will play in the quarter-finals of the tournament in Melbourne for the first time in seven years.
The Belarusian, who won the title in 2012 and 2013, found a place in the top eight after a victory of 2-1 (4:6, 6:1, 6:4) over China’s Zhu Lin in 2 hours and 42 minutes of play. The match finished after two o’clock at night in Melbourne and turned into a real marathon.
Zhu Lin, making her Grand Slam “Round of 16” debut, took the first set of the match after breaking in the seventh game for 4:3. However, the Chinese was not able to maintain the level of her play in the second set, which started with five consecutive games on Victoria Azarenka’s account, which predated the playing of a decisive third set.
The third set started with six consecutive breaks to make it 3:3. Zhu Lin was the first to win her serve and take a 4:3 lead, but another twist followed for the more experienced of the two tennis players. Victoria Azarenka equalized for 4:4, and then made another break, with which she secured the opportunity to serve for the match. Her opponent reached two break points at 15-40, but after four solid serves, Victoria Azarenka turned the game around and won the match.
The former Melbourne champion will play versus 3rd-seeded Jessica Pegula for a place in the semi-finals. The American was more than decisive against the Czech Barbora Krejcikova and defeated her by 2-0 (7:5, 6:2) in just 67 minutes of play.
The big surprise of the day was the elimination of Iga Swiatek, who lost to Elena Rybakina by 0-2 (4:6, 4:6).
