Azarenka reaches quarterfinals again

It turns out she was just nervous about the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship against the New England Patriots. “Mentally, emotionally and physically I left it all out there on the court”. “Certainly I was trying to just concentrate on the match when I was out there, but, like I said, it’s been a hard, hard few days”. She added that she can understand why tennis fans get nervous watching her, because she herself is a sports fanatic.

February’s Super Bowl shapes as a no-lose scenario for the Belarusian, whose sporting interests also include Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, whose Panthers will square off against the Broncos in the NFL’s title match. Azarenka has already shown some allegiance to Newton and the Panthers, doing her version of the “dab” in her victory celebrations.

Her interviewer posed an apt follow-up question: Are you happier about the Broncos’ win or your own? “I will do my best and I know she will do the same”.

Tomic’s service came under pressure again in the second set with the Scot breaking him in the first and third games while dropping his in the second game.

Former world number one Azarenka proved too strong for Czech Barbora Strycova on Rod Laver Arena, storming through 6-2, 6-4 to set up a last-eight clash with Kerber, who beat fellow German Annika Beck 6-4, 6-0.

“Maybe it’s a good omen”. Kerber saved a match point against Misaki Doi in first round.

Ferrer won 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in two hours, four minutes on Hisense Arena to set up his sixth appearance in the last eight.

Milos Raonic beat French Open champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. – Andy Murray reflects on the collapse of his father-in-law while watching a match on Saturday.

Novak Djokovic was looking everywhere for answers, even in the crowd.

The win secured his spot in the quarterfinals for the 27th consecutive major, equaling Jimmy Connors at No. 2 in that streak and trailing only Roger Federer’s record of 36.

“She’s such a tough opponent”, Azarenka said of Strycova.

This honesty was further on display when Osaka detailed some of the lessons she will take away from this loss to Azarenka.

He hit 62 winners, and won 100 of the 176 rallies of four shots or fewer, but only 48 of the 101 featuring nine shots or more. “I hate to say, but you are absolutely right”. “When you’re playing that bad and still manage to win – hopefully it’s going to get better next one”.

The final two players in the quarters will be determined later Monday when American Madison Keys squares off against Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai and British hope Johanna Konta plays Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova.

Raonic, who earlier spoke of his grief over a high school shooting in his home country, eliminated the Swiss world number four 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3 and will face Monfils in the quarters. Kerber is winning no less than 50 percent of her second serve points and has played just 32 games in her last two matches.