Victoria Azarenka reaches 4th round at Australian Open

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In this photo provided by Tennis Australia, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus sits with her son Leo during a press conference following her third round win over Elina Svitolina of Ukraine at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (David Mariuz/Tennis Australia via AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Before Victoria Azarenka had a chance to analyze both players she might meet next, a question was posed to her son about the two-time Australian Open champion’s third-round performance.

Five-year-old Leo, wearing his sunglasses in the news conference room and sitting on his mother’s knee, responded succinctly: “Awesome!”

Thanks, kid.

“Yeah, taking control of my end of the court,” she added. “I think that’s what I’m more happy about.”

She will next play French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, who rallied from a set and a break down against 26th-seeded Jelena Ostapenko to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and advance to the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the first time.

The 24th-seeded Azarenka, who won the Australian Open title in 2012 and 2013 and has been a U.S. Open finalist three times, is into the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2016 after extending her winning record to 5-0 against Svitolina.

She accumulated nearly twice as many winners, 17, as unforced errors, nine, and never faced a break point. Svitolina made mistake after mistake, 26 unforced errors in all.

Since a quarterfinal run in Australia in 2016, Azarenka lost first-round matches last year and in 2019, and missed the hard-court tournament in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

The 32-year-old former No. 1 from Belarus is feeling comfortable right now, fulfilling the dual roles of player and mother in Melbourne.

Azarenka was asked if it was more demanding, distracting or relaxing to have her son with her on the tour.

“All of the above,” she said, laughing, as Krejcikova and Ostapenko were playing. “It’s definitely not a distraction, I will never say that. Being a parent is not easy. He’s full of personality — I don’t know where he gets it from!”

Leo flipped his tournament credential around on its lanyard as his mother responded to questions from within the room and online. He yawned at least once and blew air onto the microphone.

“I always feel privileged that I’m able to have him here,” Azarenka said. “These kind of moments are really priceless for me. To be able for me to share that with my son is pretty incredible.”

In other results on Day 5, fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari beat No. 28 Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1 to move into a fourth-round match against 21st-seeded Jessica Pegula, who beat Nuria Parrizas Diaz 7-6 (3), 6-2.

Eighth-seeded Paula Badosa had a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win over Marta Kostyuk to move into a fourth-round match against Madison Keys, who held off Wang Qiang 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2).

On the men’s side, Miomir Kecmanovic continued to make the most of the absence of fellow Serbian Novak Djokovic, reaching the fourth round at a major for the first time with a 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-2, 7-5 win over 25th-seeded Lorenzo Sonego.

Kecmanovic had been drawn to play the top-ranked Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open champion, in the first round. But Djokovic was deported on the eve of the tournament for failing to meet Australia’s strict COVID-19 regulations, and Kecmanovic instead faced Salvatore Caruso — a so-called lucky loser from qualifying — in the first round and Tommy Paul in the second.

Kecmanovic will next play 17th-seeded Gael Monfils, who beat No. 16 Cristian Garin 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-3.

Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev had a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Radu Albot, a 124th-ranked qualifier from Moldova, to set up a fourth-round match against Denis Shapovalov.

The 14th-seeded Shapovalov beat No. 23 Reilly Opelka 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini fended off 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 (5) to reach the fourth round in Australia for the second straight year.

The night session later Friday featured two much-anticipated matchups that could lead to an even bigger one. Defending champion Naomi Osaka was to face Amanda Anisimova at Margaret Court Arena, while No. 1 Ash Barty was set to play Camila Giorgi at Rod Laver Arena.

The winners of those two matches will meet each other in a fourth-round contest that could have the feel of a Grand Slam final a week early if it’s Osaka vs. Barty.

Rafael Nadal was to continue his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title with a third-round match against No. 28 Karen Khachanov.

More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

The Latest: Berrettini beats Alcaraz, reaches 4th round

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Naomi Osaka of Japan bounces her racket in frustration during her third Rond match against Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Simon Baker)

MELBOURNE – The Latest on Friday at the Australian Open (all times local):

9:35 p.m.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka was knocked out of the Australian Open after losing to Amanda Anisimova 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the third round.

The 20-year-old Anisimova saved two match points in the third set at Margaret Court Arena ahead of the tiebreaker and ended the match with an ace. She hit 46 winners to Osaka’s 21.

Anisimova built a 3-0 lead in the 10-point tiebreaker and went up 9-5 with a forehand winner into tight space down the line.

Anisimova double-faulted twice in the first game of the match to hand the 13th-seeded Osaka an early break. But she hit 15 winners in the second set and broke to go up 3-1 on a backhand drop shot with Osaka caught at the baseline.

She will next face top-ranked Ash Barty in the fourth round.

9:05 p.m.

Top-ranked Ash Barty advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-3 win over 30th-seeded Camila Giorgi.

Barty has only conceded eight games and spent less than three hours on court in the first three rounds at Melbourne Park. The Wimbledon champion and 2019 French Open winner is aiming to be the first Australian woman to win her home championship since 1978.

She will next player either defending champion Naomi Osaka or 20-year-old American Amanda Anisimova.

7:45 p.m.

Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev has advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Radu Albot, a No. 124-ranked qualifier from Moldova.

The third-seeded Zverev finished it off with his third match point in just under two hours. He converted three of his six break-point chances and fended off all five on his own serve.

Zverev hit 44 winners and 16 aces to prepare for his next match against No. 14-ranked Denis Shapovalov of Canada.

7:30 p.m.

Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini has fended off 18-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 6-2, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 (5) to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.

The seventh-seeded Berrettini wasted a match point when Alcaraz was serving to force a fifth-set tiebreaker, netting a return to a second serve.

But the 25-year-old Italian dominated the match super tiebreaker, taking a 9-5 lead to get four more match points before No. 31-ranked Alcaraz finished with a double-fault.

“He’s unbelievable. At his age, I didn’t even have an ATP point,” Berrettini said. “He’s impressive. He’ll only improve, playing matches like this. He’s showed everyone his potential.”

Berrettini advanced to the fourth round at Melbourne Park for the second straight year and for the eighth time at a Grand Slam event, equaling Fabio Fognini and Andriano Panatta’s Open-era record for the most by an Italian man.

No. 14-seeded Denis Shapovalov beat No. 23 Reilly Opelka 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in another men’s third-round match.

3:10 p.m.

French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova rallied from a set and a break down against No. 26-seeded Jelena Ostapenko to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and advance to the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time.

The fourth-seeded Krejcikova will next play two-time Australian champion Victoria Azarenka, who ousted 15th-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-0, 6-2.

In other results on Day 5, fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari beat No. 28 Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1 to move into a fourth-round match against American Jessica Pegula, who beat Nuria Parrizas Diaz 7-6 (3), 6-2.

12:35 p.m.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is into the fourth round for the first time since 2016 after overpowering 15th-seeded Elina Svitolina 6-0, 6-2.

Azarenka accumulated nearly twice as many winners, 17, as unforced errors, nine, and never faced a break point. Svitolina made mistake after mistake, 26 unforced errors in all.

Azarenka improved to 5-0 against Svitolina.

The 24th-seeded Azarenka won the title at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013, and she also has been the runner-up at the U.S. Open three times, most recently in 2020.

She next will play No. 4 Barbora Krejcikova or No. 26 Jelena Ostapenko, who each has won the French Open.

Since a quarterfinal run in Australia in 2016, Azarenka lost first-round matches last year and in 2019, and missed the hard-court tournament in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

11:20 a.m.

Day 5 at the Australian Open features two much-anticipated matchups that could lead to an even bigger one.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka faces Amanda Anisimova at Margaret Court Arena, while No. 1 Ash Barty plays hard-hitting Camila Giorgi at Rod Laver Arena. Both are on the night schedule.

The winners of those two matches will meet each other in a fourth-round contest that could have the feel of a Grand Slam final a week early if it’s Osaka vs. Barty.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is taking on No. 15 seed Elina Svitolina to get things started in the third round.

Later Friday, Rafael Nadal will continue his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title with a third-round match against No. 28 Karen Khachanov, and Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini takes on No. 31 Carlos Alcaraz.

More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Mom was awesome: Victoria Azarenka`s son after she enters 4th round at Australian Open

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I think thats what Im more happy about. She`ll next play French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, who rallied from a set and a break down against No. 26-seeded Jelena Ostapenko to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and advance to the fourth round in singles at Melbourne Park for the first time

Before Victoria Azarenka had a chance to analyze both players she might meet next, a question was posed to her son about the two-time Australian Open champion’s third-round performance. Five-year-old Leo, wearing his sunglasses in the news conference room and sitting on his mother’s knee, responded succinctly: “Awesome!” Thanks, kid.

Azarenka’s own highlights from her 6-0, 6-2 win over 15th-seeded Elina Svitolina on Friday included the “amount of aggressivity I could bring point after point, applying a lot of pressure, the consistency. The break points I faced, I played really strong.” “Yeah, taking control of my end of the court,” she added. “I think that’s what I’m more happy about.” She’ll next play French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, who rallied from a set and a break down against No. 26-seeded Jelena Ostapenko to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 and advance to the fourth round in singles at Melbourne Park for the first time.

The 24th-seeded Azarenka, who won the title at Melbourne Park in 2012 and 2013 and has been a U.S. Open finalist three times, is into the fourth round here for the first time since 2016 after extending her winning record to 5-0 against Svitolina. She accumulated nearly twice as many winners, 17, as unforced errors, nine, and never faced a break point. Svitolina made mistake after mistake, 26 unforced errors in all. Since a quarterfinal run in Australia in 2016, Azarenka lost first-round matches last year and in 2019, and missed the hard-court tournament in 2017, 2018 and 2020. The 32-year-old former world No. 1 from Belarus is feeling comfortable right now, fulfilling the dual roles of player and mother in Melbourne. Azarenka was asked if it was more demanding, distracting or relaxing to have her son with her on the tour. “All of the above,” she said, laughing, as Krejcikova and Ostapenko were playing. “It’s definitely not a distraction, I will never say that. Being a parent is not easy. He’s full of personality " I don’t know where he gets it from!” Leo flipped his tournament credential around on its lanyard as his mother responded to questions from within the room and online. He yawned at least once and blew air onto the microphone. “I always feel privileged that I’m able to have him here,” Azarenka said.

“These kind of moments are really priceless for me. To be able for me to share that with my son is pretty incredible.” In other results on Day 5, fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari beat No. 28 Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1 to move into a fourth-round match against 21st seed Jessica Pegula of the U.S., who beat Nuria Parrizas Diaz 7-6 (3), 6-2. Eighth-seeded Paula Badosa advanced with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 win over Marta Kostyuk. The night session later Friday featured two much-anticipated matchups that could lead to an even bigger one. Defending champion Naomi Osaka was to face Amanda Anisimova at Margaret Court Arena, while No. 1 Ash Barty was set to play Camila Giorgi at Rod Laver Arena. The winners of those two matches will meet each other in a fourth-round contest that could have the feel of a Grand Slam final a week early if it’s Osaka vs. Barty. Rafael Nadal was to continue his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title with a third-round match against No. 28 Karen Khachanov.

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Ashleigh Barty, Victoria Azarenka urge Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai to get in touch-Sports News , Firstpost

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Previous Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion Peng alleged on social media in November that former Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli forced her into sex during a long-term on-off relationship.

Melbourne: Women’s tennis needs to hear directly from Peng Shuai to know that she is safe, two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka said Wednesday, as fears persist for China’s former world number one doubles player.

Previous Wimbledon and French Open doubles champion Peng alleged on social media in November that former Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli forced her into sex during a long-term on-off relationship.

However, her online post was deleted and her claims censored, then she disappeared from public, only to reappear three weeks later.

Despite this and a video call with IOC president Thomas Bach, there remain doubts about how free the 36-year-old Peng really is.

Azarenka, a long-time member of the WTA Players’ Council, said efforts were still being made to ensure Peng was safe.

“There hasn’t been that much development in terms of contact with Peng Shuai even though from our side we will continue to make any and all efforts to make sure that she is safe, she feels comfortable,” she said at the Australian Open.

“Hopefully we will get to hear from her personally at some point. I think that’s the goal, the main goal right now.”

World number one Ashleigh Barty said she wanted to see Peng playing again.

“I think the tennis community has come together,” she said when asked how important it was to keep putting pressure on China to dispel doubts about Peng’s well-being.

“Obviously we’re all looking out for her safety. We all hope that she’s well. We hope that she’s doing okay. Hopefully it’s not too long until we see her back out here.”

The Women’s Tennis Association last month suspended tournaments in China given its “serious doubts” about Peng’s safety and Azarenka said plans were afoot to find replacements for the axed events.

The Covid pandemic means no tournaments were likely to take place any time soon in China anyway.

“I think right now, it’s a process. The process is obviously not public at the moment because there is no certainties or any decisions or substitutions that are in play,” said Azarenka, a straight-sets winner in the second round on Wednesday in Melbourne.

“The process is there. As soon as we have more concrete information, it will definitely be shared.

“Right now it’s still up in the air, but there is work behind the scenes for sure.”

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Badosa, Azarenka breeze into Australian Open third round

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Paula Badosa and two-time champion Victoria Azarenka picked up swift victories in the second round of the Australian Open on Wednesday. Azarenka will meet Elina Svitolina in the third round.

No.8 seed Paula Badosa and two-time champion Victoria Azarenka captured swift victories Wednesday in their second-round matches at the Australian Open.

Badosa of Spain cruised past Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan 6-0, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena in 1 hour and 11 minutes. Badosa is currently on a seven-match winning streak. She won her third career WTA singles title last week in Sydney.

Read more: Champions Corner: Paula Badosa’s aggressive game plan pays off in Sydney

Words from the winner: “It was a tricky match against Martina,” Badosa said. “We know each other since a long time. She’s a fighter. I knew she was going to make me play every point, she was going to fight until the end. I’m pretty happy about the win today.

“I think I’m growing as a person, as a tennis player day by day. I’m working very hard. I’m believing in myself. It’s much different. Last year I was No.70 in the world. Now I’m No.6. I’m improving a lot. I’m really happy and proud of how I am working.”

Coming off her Sydney win, World No.6 Paula Badosa drops a total of 7 games to make her first #AusOpen 3R. Defeats Martina Trevisan 60 63.

Has served up a 6-0 set in both her matches. Did not face a break point vs. Trevisan.

Faces either Sorribes Tormo or Kostyuk. pic.twitter.com/M925OgwkDL — WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) January 19, 2022

Fast facts: Badosa had not reached the third round of the Australian Open in her three previous main-draw showings. In fact, she had never won back-to-back matches on Australian soil before her title run in Sydney last week.

But at a career-high ranking of World No.6, Badosa broke new ground in Melbourne Park with her dominant display against World No.111 Trevisan. Badosa slammed five aces, won 80 percent of her first-service points, and was never broken in the affair.

Read more: Rankings watch: Badosa hits career high, Keys rises

Trevisan’s best Grand Slam performance by far also occurred when she was a qualifier. At 2020 Roland Garros, after surviving three rounds to make it into the main draw, the Italian reached the quarterfinals, garnering a Top 10 win over Kiki Bertens en route.

Trevisan, 28, was unable to collect her second career Top 10 win over Badosa in Melbourne, although reaching the second round is still her career-best Australian Open result.

She won over 𝙖 𝙡𝙤𝙩 of fans last year…

Give @paulabadosa a wave ahead of her first major of 2022 🤗#AO2022 pic.twitter.com/5Vt6LU8E4g — wta (@WTA) January 17, 2022

Match moments: Trevisan came closest to getting on the board in the first set at 4-0, when she pulled back to deuce from double break point down. But Badosa blasted a winning backhand to obtain a third chance, where Trevisan double-faulted. Badosa easily served out the set from there.

Trevisan at last put a tally in her favor when she saved multiple break points and held in the opening game of the second set, letting out a “Si!” after she won the game. The Italian maintained parity with Badosa in the rallies until 2-2, where the eighth seed broke to take charge for good.

Badosa was untested afterward, dictating the majority of the points with power from both wings, and she broke Trevisan at love in the final game to seal victory. Badosa finished the encounter with four more winners and half as many unforced errors as Trevisan.

Next up: Badosa will next face Ukrainian teenager Marta Kostyuk in the third round. The 19-year-old beat No.32 seed Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain 7-6(5), 6-3 in just under two hours. Kostyuk is now 2-1 against Sorribes Tormo.

Kostyuk won the Australian Open junior title in 2017 and reached the third round of the main draw in Melbourne the next year at age 15. But Badosa knocked Kostyuk out in Australian Open qualifying the year after that, which is their only prior meeting.

“We’ve been friends since a long time ago, as well,” Badosa said of Kostyuk. “She’s a very talented player. When they ask me who can be the next star, I always say Marta. She has a lot of potential. She’s always a dangerous player. I will have to play my best because I know she likes these kind of matches and she will play her best next day.”

Pow, pow 💥@vika7 and @paulabadosa make quick work of their Round 2 matches! Securing their wins almost simultaneously. #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/zAw90bida7 — wta (@WTA) January 19, 2022

No.24 seed Azarenka, who won the Australian Open title twice consecutively in 2012 and 2013, stormed past Jil Teichmann 6-1, 6-2. Former World No.1 Azarenka is into the third round in Melbourne for the 11th time, but it is her first trip this far since her quarterfinal run in 2016.

Azarenka of Belarus needed 1 hour and 12 minutes to defeat Switzerland’s Teichmann, who is the highest-ranked unseeded player in the draw at World No.34.

“I think it was a very solid match from the beginning to the end,” Azarenka said. “I thought that my game plan was very well executed and I took my chances. I think I played really well on the important moments. When I had opportunities, I was really going for them.”

The left-handed Teichmann is currently at her career-high ranking, bolstered by a run to her first WTA 1000 final last season in Cincinnati. But Teichmann was undone by Azarenka, and the Swiss player is still searching for her first third-round showing at a Grand Slam event.

Both players won roughly three-quarters of their first-service points, but Azarenka dominated when returning Teichmann’s second service, winning 79 percent of points (19-for 24).

With persistent depth and pinpoint hitting, Azarenka displayed vintage form as she converted all four of her break points while also saving each of the five break points she faced.

More Head to Head 4 - Matches Played 0

Another former Top 3 player awaits Azarenka in the third round: No.15 seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.

“[Svitolina and I] had a few battles already, actually on different surfaces,” Azarenka said. “We practiced quite a few times together. I think there won’t be too many big surprises on the court.

“She fights no matter what. I think that is a very important quality in her game. The rest is about trying to really focus on myself to be more in charge, be more in control. I think that’s what I’ve been kind of trying to implement for the last few months. I think that’s working in the right direction, so I’ll continue to do that.”

Svitolina advanced into the Australian Open third round for the sixth straight season after her opponent Harmony Tan of France retired due to injury while trailing 6-3, 5-7, 5-1.

Svitolina had a match point on her serve at 6-3, 5-4, but 107th-ranked Tan swept three games in a row to steal the second set and level the affair. But the Frenchwoman took a medical timeout down 4-1 in the final set and was unable to continue beyond the next game.

Giorgi back into third round

Another early Wednesday winner was No.30 seed Camila Giorgi of Italy, who ousted 47th-ranked Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 7-6(2) in 1 hour and 37 minutes.

Giorgi is into the third round in Melbourne for the fourth time, but will now have to stun No.1 seed Ashleigh Barty in her next match if she is to make her first Australian Open Round-of-16 showing.