Serena marches on
Canadian Raonic came safely through a potentially tricky match against Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the Aussie quarters for the third straight year.
Raonic, 26, the highest surviving seed after the early departures of Andy Murray and Djokovic, rarely hit his usual heights in the two hour, 52 minute contest, but produced his best tennis when it mattered, coming back from 5-1 down in the tiebreaker to win the first set and finally got some breathing space by saving break points and breaking the world No. 13 to win the third set.
Also, Grigor Dimitrov reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal in over two years by defeating an injury-hampered Denis Istomin 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-1 to end the Uzbek wildcard’s fairytale run.
Istomin, who sensationally knocked out six-time champion Djokovic in the second round, labored with a hip injury after taking the first set and 15th seed Dimitrov took full advantage on a scorching hot day.
The Bulgarian shook Istomin’s hand warmly upon the win and might as well have.
After all, the 117th-ranked 30-yearold had paved a gold-bricked path by eliminating defending champion Djokovic in the second round, giving Dimitrov his best hope of a Grand Slam semifinal since his dream run at Wimbledon in 2014.
Meanwhile, it was back in 2003 that Serena Williams first stamped her name on Australian Open history, the then 21-year-old taking down sister Venus to bring home her first title on the blue courts of Melbourne Park.
Fourteen years on, the American is gunning for her 23rd Grand Slam title, and, at 35, is now among the oldest players left in the draw having fought off 16th seed Czech Barbora Strycova 7-5, 6-4 over two tough sets on Monday.
Venus, at 36 the oldest player in the women’s draw, is also through to the last eight in her record 73rd Grand Slam and Serena pondered whether it was a youthful outlook that had kept the pair at the top of the game for so long.
“I think it’s impressive. I think in general people our age aren’t really playing at a top level, so it’s definitely impressive,” she said.
“Venus and I are mentally eight and nine, so that’s why we’re probably able to play a little better.”
The world No. 2 wore down the 30-year-old Czech in muggy, uncomfortable midday heat on Rod Laver Arena in a game that saw her notorious serve come in fits and starts.
Even while Serena conceded the display was “probably not my best day,” and that she could “play better,” the sixtime Australian Open champion has yet to drop a set at the tournament.