Chinese rising star Zheng Qinwen hammered her way into her second successive Grand Slam quarterfinal on Monday night when she raced past Frenchwoman Oceane Dodin for the loss of just three games.
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The 21-year-old had to survive a dramatic deciding tiebreak against fellow Chinese Wang Yafan in the previous round, but was in control from the word go this time against the world No.95, easing through 6-0 6-3 in just 59 minutes.
Zheng dropped three points behind her first serve and struck 19 winners against an erratic Dodin, who never really looked comfortable at Rod Laver Arena.
After Victoria Azarenka, Elina Svitolina and Jasmine Paolini all went out earlier on Day 9, Zheng is now the only seed left in the top half of the draw.
She will be favourite to beat world No.75 Anna Kalinskaya when they square off in the quarterfinals on Wednesday as she bids to emulate her idol, Chinese former world No.2 Li Na, who won the Australian Open in 2014.
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“I’m happy to reach the quarterfinals,” Zheng said. “Compared to the last match this was much shorter. I’m really happy to be here.
“Obviously it’s the second time [in a Grand Slam quarterfinal]. I’ll have more experience. I’ll just try to tell myself ‘focus on the moment, don’t think too much’.
“Li Na told me last time, she gave me advice and said to me ‘Just play – don't think too much.’”
Having reached the last eight in New York last summer, Zheng started the match as the more experienced of the two on Monday night, and it showed during the opening few minutes.
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The 12th seed produced the much more solid tennis while Dodin struggled to settle, and the Chinese right-hander quickly took control when she broke for 2-0 with a brilliant backhand up the line.
It was 4-0 in just 18 minutes, and with only 24 minutes on the clock Zheng was sitting down having bageled the 27-year-old from Lille.
It wasn’t until the eighth game of the match until Dodin got the scoreboard moving, recognising the moment with a huge smile and by raising both arms in celebration.
Zheng, who was named WTA Most Improved Player of the Year in 2023, kept piling on the pressure.
She clubbed another cross-court forehand to bring up break point in the fourth game, and the Barcelona-based world No.15 converted for 3-1 when a Dodin backhand dropped long.
Despite throwing in her first poor service game to allow Dodin to get back on serve, Zheng was straight back to business, another flowing forehand winner earning her a fifth break of serve to re-establish her two-game cushion at 4-2.
The young Chinese star held her nerve impressively over the closing stages to convert her second match point after just under an hour on court.
Earlier in the evening, the upsets kept coming when Kalinskaya put out Paolini, the 26th seed from Italy, in straight sets.
Both were appearing in the fourth round at a major for the first time, and once the world No.75 had come through the opening set at John Cain Arena she ran away with the match, 6-4 6-2.
“It feels amazing,” said Kalinskaya, who won the AO girls’ doubles title in 2016. “Playing so many matches in such a beautiful tournament it’s something special, for sure.
“I’ve improved my game – obviously that’s the key to winning matches. I’ll keep fighting and staying positive.”