Both men and women, the first qualifier for the second week of the Australian Open was Victoria Azarenka (seeded #24), who didn’t get into the details to beat Elina Svitolina (#16) 6-0, 6-2 at 1h07.

The announced shock was cut short in this third round of women’s singles: Azarenka, 32, who was as hard-hitting as she was in her finest hour, delivered a very clean copy, unlike the chaotic Ukrainian and inaccurate in all sections of the game, the point we feared The worst was when she found herself 6-0 down, 2-0 in less than half an hour.

Gaël Monfils’ wife, who unlike her husband is facing a very complicated start to the season, then jumped to get the ball 2-2. But, despite saving five match points in the last game, they were far from the mark against an opponent who didn’t make it (five defeats in five matches).

It was much better for the Belarusian who has been continuing her infernal pace since the start of the tournament, losing a total of 9 small matches to go into week two. This will be her first since 2016 at the Australian Open – she hasn’t won a match there since – the tournament that has made her a queen since winning there twice (2012, 2013), having also been crowned juniors in both singles and doubles.

Krejcikova renverse Ostapenko

Victoria Azarenka had to wait a while before finding out the name of her opponent in the round of 16: Barbora Krejsikova (seeded #4), who succeeded her at Rod Laver Arena, took two hours and 10 minutes to beat Jelena Ostapenko. (No. 26), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

In this duel between two Roland Garros champions, Latvia made the best start to advance 6-2, 3-1. But despite winning by 40 points, she gradually fell to the Czech, who managed to seal the match perfectly when necessary. It’s the first time Krizhikova, 26, has reached her second week in Melbourne, where she has claimed the mixed doubles title three times.

drunken care

For her part, Maria Skari (No. 5) had no problem beating Russia’s Veronika Kudretova (No. 28), 6-4, 6-1. And you will find the Greek in the round of 16, American Jessica Pegola (No. 21), who beat Spaniard Nuria Barezas Diaz 7-6 (3), 6-2.