Azarenka eases into quarter-finals

Victoria Azarenka rolled on at the Australian Open, booking a quarter-final meeting with Angelique Kerber courtesy of a straight-sets win over Barbora Strycova.

The Belarusian two-time champion knocked Strycova out of the year's first grand slam for the third straight year thanks to a 6-2 6-4 victory on Rod Laver Arena on Monday.

Azarenka, the 14th seed in Melbourne, clinched the Brisbane International title in the lead-up and is yet to drop a set this year.

She meets Kerber, who she thrashed in the final in Brisbane, in a last-eight clash in a bottom half of the draw that has opened right up following the exits of Simona Halep and Venus Williams among others.

Strycova, now 0-5 against Azarenka, tried to impose herself more than she often does, but her unforced errors were costly as she missed out on a second grand slam quarter-final appearance.

For Azarenka, she is into the last eight in Melbourne for a fifth time.

Strycova was steady early, and came from 0-40 down to hold in the third game, but her aggression – and errors – were her undoing as Azarenka broke for 3-2.

Azarenka has been broken just once at the tournament and lost no more than three games in a set this year, but the latter changed in the second set.

She was challenged when serving at 4-3 before Strycova made her serve it out, and she had no trouble doing so.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Azarenka [14] bt Strycova 6-2 6-4

ACES

Azarenka - 0

Strycova - 2

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS

Azarenka - 15/14

Strycova - 23/33

BREAK POINTS WON

Azarenka - 3/7

Strycova - 0/2

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE

Azarenka - 76

Strycova - 68

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE

Azarenka - 83/38

Strycova - 63/42

TOTAL POINTS

Azarenka - 65

Strycova - 48