Russia’s tennis star Sharapova scores her 600th career win

For Bencic to be successful against Sharapova she has to get involved in Sharapova’s service games. But Bencic, an 18-year-old Swiss phenom, rallied to win in three sets to set up a fourth-round match with Sharapova.

On Friday in Melbourne, she did it again, handling OH native Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-0 to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.

He compared the latest milestone to his 1,000th win in tour-level matches, which he sealed 12 months ago in Brisbane. “I think it’s a proud number”, Sharapova said.

Like many tiebreaks, the momentum of this seven-point shootout swayed back and forth, with both players earning and recovering a couple of mini-breaks. “But overall it’s not constantly on my mind, how many matches I’ve won in my career”. “I thought I played pretty well in the other matches though-my first match I thought I gave a great effort, and my second match, under the circumstances, I thought I played pretty well”. She mixes up the ball well.

The victory propels Sharapova into an intriguing fourth-round clash with Belinda Bencic in a match of the thumper vs. the thinker.

Sharapova hasn’t beaten Williams since 2004, losing their last 17 meetings, including last year’s Australian Open final.

“I wanted a pleated skirt, because a pleated skirt is very classic”, she said.

“(But) at 28 years old, I’m healthy and look forward to playing for many years. Sharapova’s record in Grand Slams is now 22-1 against Americans who are not named Williams.

Novak Djokovic advanced to the fourth round in Melbourne for the 10th straight year, saving two set points in the third and then closing the match out 6-1, 7-5, 7-6(6) against Andreas Seppi.

Sharapova ultimately proved too much for Davis, though, as many expected she would.

The scrappy Davis didn’t shrink from the deficit.

She also had her left ankle treated by a trainer, but shook off any injury concerns, saying, “pain is my second name”.

The Russian went for a break to compose herself, and refreshed and wearing a clean dress, she quickly broke to go 2-0 before powering across the finish line as Davis faded.

When told of the statistic, she replied: “That’s good, that’s good”.

Russia-born Australian Daria Gavrilova was inspired by a raucous home crowd in Hisense Arena as she clinched a thrilling 6-4 4-6 11-9 win over Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic.

Sliding her ninth ace to complete a love hold, Sharapova drew even, 5-all. Sharapova couldn’t capitalize on the gift. Young and promising American Lauren Davis snatched the second set in tie-breakers.

Roberta Vinci, who ended Williams’ bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2015 with a shocking semifinal win at the U.S. Open, lost 0-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Anna-Lena Friedsam. Sharapova asked, responding to a question in an on-court interview.

“In a grand slam environment against anyone you can’t expect to get away with it, and I didn’t”.

However, the big news of the day was that 19 years after making his first appearance at Melbourne Park as a 15-year-old, Lleyton Hewitt played his final singles match at the Australian Open.