Twice former champion Victoria Azarenka took her profession report in opposition to Jelena Ostapenko to 4-0 on Saturday with a 6-1 7-5 victory within the third spherical of the Australian Open.
Azarenka gained each her Grand Slam titles at Melbourne Park and the 34-year-old confirmed simply how a lot she enjoys the event along with her fourth straight win over the 2017 French Open champion.
The 18th seed subsequent faces Dayana Yastremska after the Ukrainian qualifier scored a 6-2 2-6 6-1 win in opposition to twenty seventh seed Emma Navarro.
“I knew it’s going to be a troublesome battle,” Azarenka stated after her victory over the Latvian, who had opened the season by successful the title in Adelaide and returning to prime 10.
“I felt like I performed a very, actually good first set, actually saved the stress.
“She’s a Grand Slam champion, she’s been in wonderful kind coming off the title so I knew she was going come again and play sturdy.
“I used to be simply looking for a possibility in that second set to get one break level at a time and attempt to get my possibilities.”
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Azarenka acquired off to a flyer at Margaret Court docket Area, breaking Ostapenko within the second sport en path to a 3-0 lead. She broke once more within the sixth sport and was serving for the set earlier than her opponent provided any actual resistance.
Ostapenko earned her first break level in that sport however squandered it with an unforced error and Azarenka fired an ace to say the set.
The eleventh seed confirmed far more urgency within the second set, changing a break level within the fourth sport earlier than establishing a 5-2 lead, however Azarenka broke again within the ninth and held serve in a see-saw tenth to degree it.
The Belarusian then capitalised on a collection of errors and a double fault from Ostapenko to interrupt her once more, and saved 4 break factors within the ultimate sport earlier than sealing victory in an hour and 23 minutes.
“Glad to shut it out. There was a detailed one within the final sport,” Azarenka stated.
“I used to be going to make her work actually onerous to earn the purpose and put a bit of bit stress. I used to be in a position to convert my alternatives.”