Aus Open women’s round-up: Kerber ousts Sharapova, Halep prevails in 3h44m marathon

Angelique Kerber thrashed Maria Sharapova in straight sets in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday. The German 21st seed needed only 64 minutes to beat the unseeded Russian 6-1, 6-3 to reach the last 16.

“I was just trying to enjoy every point,” said Kerber after ousting Sharapova in only her second Grand Slam tournament back since serving a 15-month doping ban.

The hugely anticipated match-up of the only two Australian Open winners and Grand Slam champions left in the women’s draw got top billing at the Rod Laver Arena.

“I have so many good memories on this court,” said Kerber, who won her first Grand Slam title there two years ago when she beat Serena Williams in the final. “I knew before the match it would be a tough one.”

Sharapova only returned to the top 50 two weeks ago and Kerber to the top 20 last week after being on top of the rankings as defending champion in Melbourne a year ago.

Sharapova reached the semi-finals in Shenzhen to start the year but Kerber’s form has been outstanding heading into the year’s first major.

The German enjoyed an unbeaten singles campaign in the Hopman Cup, won in Sydney and surrendered only nine games in the first two rounds in Melbourne.

Kerber will face either 26th seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland or Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei for a place in the quarter-finals.

Halep prevails after marathon match

World No 1 Simona Halep saved three match points to survive a titanic struggle and make the last 16 at the Australian Open Saturday where she joined Karolina Pliskova and Caroline Garcia.

With the temperatures a manageable 26 Celsius (79 Farenheit) at Melbourne Park after two days of oven-like conditions, the Romanian looked out for the count against American Lauren Davis.

But she finally got over the line 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 in a gruelling 3hr 44min on Rod Laver Arena to make the fourth round in a contest that took its toll.

“I’m almost dead,” the tenacious Romanian said after the incredible battle, in which Davis lost a toenail and Halep served for the match four times.

“The feeling in my muscles is gone and I don’t feel my ankle anymore,” she added.

Pliskova overcomes Safarova in a tough two-setter

Karolina Pliskova outmuscled fellow Czech Lucie Safarova to make the fourth round in a testing two-set encounter.

The tattooed sixth seed, looking to win her first Grand Slam, came through the tight match on Margaret Court Arena against her 29th seeded compatriot 7-6 (8/6), 7-5 in 1hr 37mins.

“It was a tough match, it always is against Lucie,” said Pliskova, who made the quarter-finals last year.

“I’m happy I held my serve in the last game, It’s a good sign because my serve is the most important key for me.”

She will next play either American Bernarda Pera or another Czech Barbora Strycova who clash later.

Hsieh rolls past Radwanska into last 16

Taiwanese veteran Hsieh Su-wei reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam for only the second time when she rolled past Agnieszka Radwanska at the Australian Open Saturday.

Hsieh, who knocked out third seed Garbine Muguruza in round two, followed up with an assured victory over the Polish former world number two 6-2, 7-5 in an hour and 39 minutes.

Her reward is a last-16 clash with the 2016 champion Angelique Kerber.

“I come back to the big court again!” said an excited Hsieh when told she would face Kerber.

Keys glides into last 16

US Open finalist Madison Keys continued her serene progress through the Australian Open draw with a 6-3, 6-4 win over unseeded Ana Bogdan on Saturday.

The 17th seed, who made the semis at Melbourne Park in 2015, has not dropped a set and breezed past the plucky Romanian, ranked 104, in 73 minutes in their third-round match on Margaret Court Arena.

“I’m really excited. I definitely feel I’m playing well,” said Keys, who was one of only three Americans to make the round of 32.

The American, coached by former great Lindsay Davenport, next faces either French eighth seed Caroline Garcia or Belarussian Alaksandra Sasnovich in the last 16.

Garcia battles past Sasnovich to last 16

Eighth seed Caroline Garcia battled into the last 16 of the Australian Open Saturday to set up clash with the dangerous Madison Keys for a place in the quarters-finals.

The Frenchwoman, who won two WTA titles last year to send her rocketing up the rankings, proved too much for unseeded Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus, winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 on Hisense Arena.

Garcia, who had won her only previous encounter with Sasnovich, raced through the opening set in 42 minutes before the Belarussian got a break in the second to take it to a deciding set.

But she was fast running out of energy and the French star, showing no problems from a recent back injury, closed out the match comfortably on serve in 2hrs 5mins.

Osaka ousts Aussie hope Barty

Unseeded Naomi Osaka downed local Australian Open hope Ashleigh Barty with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-2 win Saturday to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Ranked 72, her reward is a clash with top seed Simona Halep for a place in the quarter-finals.

The powerful Japanese 20-year-old took the first set against the 18th seed in 38 minutes before racing to a 4-0 lead in the second on the back of an impressive serve.

Women’s singles 3rd round results:

Karolina Pliskova (CZE x6) bt Lucie Safarova (CZE x29) 7-6 (8/6), 7-5

Madison Keys (USA x17) bt Ana Bogdan (ROM) 6-3, 6-4

Simona Halep (ROM x1) bt Lauren Davis (USA) 4-6, 6-4, 15-13

Caroline Garcia (FRA x8) bt Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2

Naomi Osaka (JPN) bt Ashleigh Barty (AUS x18) 6-4, 6-2

Barbora Strycova (CZE x20) bt Bernarda Pera (USA) 6-2, 6-2

Angelique Kerber (GER x21) bt Maria Sharapova (RUS) 6-1, 6-3

Hsieh Su-wei TPE) bt Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x26) 6-2, 7-5

(with inputs from AFP)