Maria knocks defending champ out of Oz Open
Sharapova knocks out defending champ Wozniacki
Melbourne, Jan. 18: Maria Sharapova stunned defending champion Caroline Wozniacki to sweep into the Australian Open Last 16 on Friday and join ice men Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who clinically disposed of their opponents.
The Russian five-time Grand Slam winner, who has struggled since returning from a drugs ban in 2017, was at full throttle in ending the Dane’s dream of a second major title.
Sharapova won 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 with the roof closed on Rod Laver Arena and will next play in-form local hope Ashleigh Barty, who bounced Greece’s Maria Sakkari, for a berth in the quarterfinals.
Second seed Nadal called young Australian Alex de Minaur “one of the best in the world” ahead of their evening clash, then proceeded to hand him a tennis lesson, dismantling the teenager 61, 6-2, 6-4.
Nadal’s reward is a meeting with Tomas Berdych, who rallied to beat Argentine 18th seed Diego Schwartzman 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
The Czech veteran reached the semi-finals in 2014 and 2015 but is unseeded this year as he returns from a back injury that almost forced his retirement last year.
Swiss great Federer was also on fire in taming big-serving American Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 to stay on track for a third successive title at Melbourne Park and a 21st Grand Slam crown.
On a rain-affected day that delayed play on outside courts, the
37-year-old showed no mercy to the
21-year-old in his 100th match on the centre court in Melbourne. “I had a really good feeling out here today against someone who can be dangerous,” said Federer after reaching the Melbourne fourth round for the 17th time — more than anyone else ever.
“Taylor played really well. He is going to have many more years on tour playing at this level,” he added.
The double defending champion is gunning for a record seventh Australian title. If he goes on to win the tournament, he will become the first man ever to claim seven or more crowns at two Slams, having already won eight Wimbledons.
Next up for him is fiery Greek
14th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Georgia’s 19th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4.
Barty beat Greece’s Sakkari 7-5, 61, with the 15th seed yet to drop a set in her best performance at Melbourne Park.
She has won seven of eight matches this month to back up a title victory in Zhuhai late last year to shape up as a dangerous opponent for Sharapova.
No Australian woman has won the season-opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park since Christine O’Neill in 1978.
I’m a competitor, I love to win, I hate to lose — I hate losing more than I love winning. As long as you give it your all, as long as I fought for every point and was really trying to do everything in my power to win, I can’t really blame myself.
— CAROLINE WOZNIACKI after her loss