Australian Open Logo
6-26 Jan
Listen to AO Radio

Thanks for visiting the Australian Open Website. We can see you’re using Internet Explorer, and wanted to let you know that we will no longer be supporting this browser in future. We’d recommend you download a new browser if you'd like to continue keeping up with all of the latest tennis news!

Barty, Osaka, Andreescu into Miami Open quarterfinals

  • Matt Trollope

Ash Barty and Naomi Osaka continued their progress at the Miami Open on Monday – and extended their respective winning streaks in the process.

Barty, the world No.1 and defending champion, took her Miami streak to nine matches thanks to a three-set win over Victoria Azarenka.

Second-ranked Osaka then beat Elise Mertens 6-3 6-3 to take her unbeaten run to 23 matches.

DRAW: Miami Open women's singles

Joining Barty and Osaka in the quarterfinals were fellow top-10 stars Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina, while in the men’s draw, Andrey Rublev and Diego Schwartzman – also ranked inside the top 10 – advanced to the fourth round.

Schwartzman will next face American young gun Sebastian Korda, who stunned in-form Russian Aslan Karatsev for the loss of just three games.

Later on Monday, two highly-anticipated clashes unfolded in exciting fashion; Stefanos Tsitsipas overcame Kei Nishikori in three sets before Bianca Andreescu recovered to oust Garbine Muguruza 3-6 6-3 6-2.

Andreescu, playing just the third event of her comeback after 15 months out with assorted injuries, takes on another in-form Spaniard in Sara Sorribes Tormo – who beat Ons Jabeur in three sets – for a place in the semifinals.

After saving a match point in her opening-round win over Kristina Kucova, Barty’s level has risen to help her dismiss Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko and Azarenka.

The Australian completed her 6-1 1-6 6-2 win over Azarenka – her occasional doubles partner – in one hour and 52 minutes.

“I'm just excited now that I get to be in another quarterfinal of a big event. We get an opportunity to play another tough match,” said Barty, who has lost three of five career meetings with Sabalenka.

“I still feel like there is a lot better tennis left out there for me. I still don't feel like I'm playing my very best just yet, but I'm fighting through and I'm finding ways to win, which is great.”

Osaka, meanwhile, reached her first Miami Open quarterfinal following her third consecutive straight-sets win over Mertens.

Her winning streak is now the ninth-best this century, bettered only by Serena and Venus Williams, Azarenka, and Justine Henin.

“For me it feels really exciting. This is like one of my favorite tournaments to play, and of course I'm sad I haven't been able to get to the second week the last times that I have played this tournament,” Osaka said.

“But I'm here now, and hopefully it will go well this time.”

Osaka next plays Maria Sakkari, who saved six match points to beat Australian Open quarterfinalist Jessica Pegula 6-4 2-6 7-6(6).

In other women’s results, Anastasija Sevastova ended the heartwarming run of wildcard Ana Konjuh to set up a clash with Svitolina, who recovered to beat Petra Kvitova 2-6 7-5 7-5.

Rublev earns tour-leading 18th win of 2021

Rublev demolished Marton Fucsovics 6-2 6-1 for his third straight victory over the Hungarian in 2021.

The win, achieved in just 52 minutes, sees the Russian move through to a fourth-round meeting with 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, who beat Italian teen Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets.

DRAW: Miami Open men's singles

"I was laughing (at the end) because of a situation and plus Marton also tell me, like, I don't want to see you. I don't want to see you,” smiled Rublev, who is attempting to reach just his second ever ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal.

“For sure it's best opportunity to try to go deep, to try to win more matches, to earn more points.

“Every week is great opportunity. I'm gonna try to do best to go as deep as I can. I'm gonna give everything and we'll see if I can make it or not.”

No.12 seed Milos Raonic also progressed in straight sets but instead of facing fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov, he will come up against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who upset the sixth-seeded Shapovalov 6-3 7-6(6).

Lorenzo Sonego saw off Daniel Elahi Galan in straight sets and will face Tsitsipas for a place in the quarterfinals.