Melbourne, Australia—Maria Sharapova stunned defending champion Caroline Wozniacki to sweep into the Australian Open last 16 Friday and join ice man Roger Federer, who clinically disposed of his opponent.
The Russian five-time Grand Slam winner, who has struggled since returning from a drugs ban in 2017, was as 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 quarter-finals.
“I thought the level was quite high. I knew it would be a tough match,” said the 2008 champion, who has been in sizzling form at the tournament as she chases her first Slam title since Roland Garros in 2014.
“These types of matches are what I train for and it was really rewarding to win that last point,” added the 30th seed.
Germany’s second seed Angelique Kerber, the 2016 title holder takes on Australian youngster Kimberley Birrell.
No Australian woman has won the season-opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park since Christine O’Neill in 1978.
Meanwhile, unseeded American Amanda Anisimova continued her dream run, ousting 11th seed Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
The 17-year-old, who models herself on Sharapova, will play either eighth seed Petra Kvitova or Swiss Belinda Bencic for a place in the quarter-finals.
Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova also advanced, crushing Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-0, 6-3 for a last 16 showdown with fifth seed Sloane Stephens, who beat Petra Martic in straight sets.
Rafael Nadal plays a night match against a player he calls “one of the best in the world”, referring to Australian teenager Alex de Minaur who won the Sydney International last week and is on seven-match win streak.
“He’s young, very young. He is winning a lot of matches. So let’s see. Going to be a tough one,” said Nadal, the 2009 champion who is searching for an 18th Grand Slam title.
The winner will face 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.