Melbourne: Ruthless Caroline Wozniacki kicked into full gear Sunday to storm into the Australian Open quarterfinals where she will pit her wits against experienced Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro. In another match, Elise Mertens scraped past Petra Martic 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 in a keenly contested match.
On an overcast and muggy day at Melbourne Park, the World No.2 turned on the style to take another step towards her maiden Grand Slam title.
The assured Dane, a semifinalist in 2011 who has never quite lived up to the hype in the majors, annihilated 19th-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-0 at the Rod Laver Arena.
Her easy passage sets up a last eight clash with the gritty Suarez Navarro, who battled back from a set down to shatter the hopes of 32nd seed Anett Kontaviet.
The Estonian had been bubbling with confidence after despatching French Open champion Jelena Osteopenko in the third round, but nerves got the better of her.
The Spaniard, who has made the quarterfinals in Melbourne twice before, most recently in 2016, credited her fightback with a conscious decision to be more aggressive.
Fourth seed Elina Svitolina, one of the form players after winning in Brisbane, is also in action as she looks to make the last eight for the first time. She will fancy her chances against Czech qualifier Denisa Allertova.
At a glance
Elise Mertens bt Petra Martic 7-6(7-5), 7-5
Carla Suarez Navarro bt Anett Kontaveit 4-6, 6-4, 8-6
Caroline Wozniacki bt Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-0
agence france presse