Victoria Azarenka Sets Up Quarter-Final With Angelique Kerber Win Over Barbora Strycova

For the third straight year, Victoria Azarenka knocked Barbora Strycova out of the Australian Open.

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