No. 3 Muguruza out in 3rd round at Australian Open

Nevertheless, at the Australian Open she’s taken to bowing to the Japanese fans that have turned out in droves to cheer for her and wave the Japanese flag during her matches. Knowing her next rival was likely to be the growing favorite, Azarenka, Strycova made a decision to stay in the moment.

“She’s really young and really aggressive”, Williams said earlier this week.

No. 8-seeded David Ferrer overwhelmed Steve Johnson 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 and to set up a meeting with another American in the next round.

Sharapova had a milestone victory when she beat Lauren Davis 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-0 to record her 600th win at the tour level, becoming the 17th and only fourth active women’s player to reach the mark.

She will next play No. 48-ranked Barbora Strycova, who upset third-seeded Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-2.

Muguruza’s flop puts her alongside second seed Simona Halep, sixth seed Petra Kvitova and eighth seed Venus Williams as top 10 players who have failed to make the tournament’s second week.

Azarenka was relentless against Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka, losing just two games in the 6-1, 6-1 win.

After his win over Viktor Troicki on Saturday, the 25-year-old Canadian said, “Today, before I stepped out on court it was a hard day back home”.

“I would like to approach that match the same way as I did my other matches: focus on myself and try to give the best on every point, because I think that’s what creates a good approach for me mentally, physically, and I enjoy it more”. “I thought I played a good game, deep balls”, said Strycova, 29.

Osaka, who was making her Grand Slam main draw debut, broke Azarenka in the opening game but was unable to find an answer to Azarenka’s shots for the remainder of the match and struggled with a left abdominal injury she suffered in her previous match.

Nicknamed “Vika” and renowned in the past for fiery on-court outbursts, Azarenka won the tournament in 2012 and defended the following year at what is her most successful Grand Slam.

Muguruza’s demise leaves No. 8 seed Angelique Kerber from Germany as the highest remaining seed in the bottom half of the women’s draw. “I’m sure we will see a lot more of her”.

With a roundhouse forehand victor, Azarenka closed out the 6-1, 6-1 win in just under an hour.

Kerber, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, faces compatriot Annika Beck of Germany in the fourth round and could meet Azarenka in the quarter-finals. “I always had pressure”, said the 27-year-old, who grew up in Minsk, adding that she had also worked on using her nerves to her advantage.

Sydney-born Johanna Konta became the first British woman to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open since 1987 when she beat Denisa Allertova 6-2, 6-2.

Muguruza entered Rod Laver Arena having prevailed in her two encounters against Strycova but was too impatient to unleash her power play and misfired with 32 unforced errors in a shock 6-3, 6-2 defeat.