Former champion Azarenka reaches quarter-finals

“I have to play my best game to beat her, for sure”.

On Monday, both players had trouble with their serves – there were a combined 10 service breaks, six by Murray.

Melbourne Park has been a happy hunting ground for Azarenka, who has now made the quarters or better five times in her last seven attempts.

To the second, and we are on serve, but the former world number one has a break point, and pounces on a poorly placed drop shot, and gets the victor, as she goes in front 4-3.

Australian Open quarterfinalist Angelique Kerber makes a young fan happy at Autograph Island.

Meanwhile Johanna Konta became Britain’s first female grand slam quarter-finalist since 1984 after she edged out Ekaterina Makarova in a nail-biting contest at the Australian Open.

Strycova had her moments in Monday’s match without ever really threatening to emulate her shock third-round victory over No. 3 seed Garbine Muguruza from Spain.

Rising 100 ranking spots since 2014 and making her first appearance in the main draw after falling in qualifying the past three years, she will face either American Madison Keys or Chinese giant-killer Zhang Shuau.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has the most Grand Slam quarter-final appearances by a Frenchman with 12 in the Open Era.

Raonic lost to Djokovic in the quarterfinals here a year ago.

Canadian Milos Raonic has advanced to the quarter-finals at the Australian Open after defeating Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in five sets on Monday.

Raonic dominated in the first two sets, but then Wawrinka went on a roll and it appeared he was ready to come back from two-sets down to win for a seventh time at a major.

Monfils beat Russia’s Andre Kuznetsov in four sets, the No. 23 seed winning 7-5 3-6 6-3 7-6, after the unseeded Russian took the second set on Margaret Court Arena and forced a tiebreak in the fourth before Monfils prevailed.

“I think it’s just about a calm, and understanding how I can be more efficient with my game”, Raonic said, explaining that Moya was there to help him get organized on and off the court.

Victoria Azarenka is a two-time champion of the Australian Open (2012, 2013). Her punishing groundstrokes and loud shrieks command attention, but there’s also her precision footwork, tactical acumen and quick hands at the net (she played a lot of doubles as a young pro and won a gold in mixed doubles at the 2012 London Games). Sears had to be taken from Rod Laver Arena, where he was watching Ivanovic play, to a nearby hospital by ambulance and was admitted overnight.

After quickly polishing off her fourth-round match Monday, beating Barbaro Strycova 6-2, 6-4, Azarenka had a question for the crowd. In a repeat of this year’s Brisbane final, revenge will be on Kerber’s mind as she looks to avenge that defeat.

Kerber, who saved a match point in her first-round win over Misaki Doi, is into the quarterfinals for the first time in Australia.

Play is under way in bright sunshine on the eighth day at Melbourne Park which features the final group of fourth-round matches that will determine singles quarterfinalists.

Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka celebrates after winning her fourth round match against Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 25, 2016.