Top seed Rafael Nadal, Swiss’ Roger Federer and second seed Victoria Azarenka cruised into the fourth round of the Australian Open in straight set.
Rod Laver Arena
Women’s third seed Maria Sharapova survived a scrappy second set to beat Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-1, 7-6. The Russian sets up a fourth round clash with 20th seed Slovak Dominika Cibulkova.
Rafael Nadal comfortably saw off France’s 25th-ranked Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in the final match of Day six.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion managed just three games in the first two sets and, improved on the decider, on his way to the next round. The Spaniard next meets Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who beat American Donald Young 7-5 6-1 6-0 earlier.
“Happy with the way I played against a tough opponent like Gael” – Nadal said on dominating Monfils.
“(Kei) will be a very tough opponent, he moves well, he played well today.”
Belarusian Victoria Azarenka only lost one game as she eased through her third round match against unseeded Austrian Yvonne Meusburger 6-1, 6-0 to reach the fourth round.
The 2012 and 2013 champion will next meet American Sloane Stephens, who secured a 7-5, 6-4 regulation victory over Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina (40th-ranked) earlier on Saturday.
Azarenka beat Stephens in last year’s semi-finals under acrimonious circumstances when she took a medical time out while trailing Stephens. When Azarenka returned, she broke Stephens’ serve and went on to win the match.
“Sloane is a great player, she’s improved so much from last year,” Azarenka said.
World number six Roger Federer cruised into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Teymuraz Gabashvili in Melbourne.
“I’m happy that from my side I’m winning my matches in straight sets,” said Federer. “It’s been different conditions every match – the heat first and the indoor match and now normal conditions with a bit of wind. So it’s just good to get through and get a good feel out there.”
Spain’s Garbine Muguruza knocked out 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Hisense Arena
Radwanska (Pol) [5] beat Pavlyuchenkova (Rus) [29] 5-7 6-2 6-2
Jankovic (Ser) [8] beat Nara (Jpn) 6-4 7-5
Murray (GB) [4] beat Lopez (Spa) [26] 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 6-2
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beats Gilles Simons 7-6, 6-4, 6-2
Margaret Court Arena
Cibulkova (Svk) [20] beat Suarez Navarro (Spa) [16] 6-1 6-0
Stephens (USA) [13] beat Svitolina (Ukr) 7-5 6-4
Dimitrov (Bul) [22] beat Raonic (Can) [11] 6-3 3-6 6-4 7-6 (12-10)
