The high-octane action of Australia continues on the eighth day of the tournament and the third day of Victoria’s snap five-day coronavirus lockdown, which has resulted in fans being shut out of Melbourne Park.
TOP SEED BARTY EASES PAST ROGERS
World number one Ash Barty sealed a comfortable 6-3 6-4 win over American Shelby Rogers to set up a quarter-final meeting with Czech Karolina Muchova.
Thanks for sharing what you do with us @ashbarty 💙#AO2021 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/GcjbfwbXCQ
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 15, 2021
MUCHOVA BEATS MERTENS IN STRAIGHT SETS
Czech 25th seed Karolina Muchova recovered from a slow start to beat Belgian 18th seed Elise Mertens 7-6(5) 7-5.
TSITSIPAS ADVANCES AFTER BERRETTINI WITHDRAWS
Italian ninth seed Matteo Berrettini withdrew from his fourth-round match against Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas due to an abdominal strain.
Tsitsipas will face Spanish second seed Rafa Nadal in the quarter-finals.
NADAL DOWNS FOGNINI IN STRAIGHT SETS
Spanish second seed Rafa Nadal sealed a dominant 6-3 6-4 6-2 win over Italian 16th seed Fabio Fognini to reach the quarter-finals for the 13th time.
Nadal, who is chasing a record 21st Grand Slam title, will face Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in the last eight.
🇷🇺 Rublev v 🇷🇺 Medvedev
🇬🇷 Tsitsipas v 🇪🇸 Nadal#AO2021 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/A6ZhF4blKs— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 15, 2021
RUBLEV THROUGH AFTER RUUD RETIREMENT
Seventh seed Andrey Rublev advanced after his opponent Casper Ruud retired while trailing 6-2 7-6(3). The Norwegian received treatment for an abdominal injury early in the second set.
Rublev joins Russian world number four Daniil Medvedev and qualifier Aslan Karatsev in the last-eight, making it the first time in the Open era that three Russian men have reached the quarter-finals in the same Grand Slam.
BRADY BOOKS QUARTER-FINAL BERTH
American Jennifer Brady eased into the quarter-finals with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Croatia’s Donna Vekic.
Brady sent down nine aces and won 85% of her first-serve points in a dominant performance against Vekic, who had heavy strapping on her right leg.
Brady faces compatriot Jessica Pegula next.
🇹🇼 Hsieh v 🇯🇵 Osaka
🇷🇴 Halep v 🇺🇸 S. Williams#AO2021 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/2fLGMR0keW— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 15, 2021
MEDVEDEV MARCHES ON
Fourth seed Daniil Medvedev raced into the quarter-finals with a clinical 6-4 6-2 6-3 victory over American Mackenzie McDonald.
Medvedev sent down seven aces, 29 winners and made just 15 unforced errors as he wrapped up the one-sided contest in 90 minutes.
PEGULA UPSETS SVITOLINA
American Jessica Pegula continued her dream run with a 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina to reach the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam for the first time.
Pegula was far more effective at the net than her opponent, and also struck 31 winners compared to 19 from Svitolina.
