Second seeds Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka have advanced to the women’s doubles quarterfinals, continuing their quest for a second Grand Slam doubles title whilst both juggling deep runs in singles.
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The powerful duo fought past 16th seeds Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva 6-3 6-7(5) 6-2, exacting revenge for a defeat at last year’s US Open, when they were bounced as defending champions.
Earlier on Sunday in her Grand Slam women’s singles fourth round debut, Sabalenka had chances against Serena Williams. But in her first meeting against 23-time major champion, the seventh seed was ultimately foiled in a tight-three sets loss.
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The Belgian and Belarusian team, who reached the final eight at Australian Open 2020, are considered the favourites for this year’s title following the exit of top seeds Su-wei Hsieh and Barbora Strycova. They next face Japanese seventh seeds Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara, which will be a first-time meeting for the foursome.
Mertens, 25, is hoping to prolong her run in both draws in the second week. In singles, the right-hander has booked a fourth-round clash against Karolina Muchova, seeded seven slots below her at 25.
In other Day 7 doubles action, Aussie men’s wildcards Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios had their campaign halted by fourth seeds Wesley Koolhof and Lukasz Kubot, falling 6-3 6-4. Poland’s Kubot is eyeing a second Australian Open title, having won the men’s doubles crown with Robert Lindstedt in 2014.
Another local wildcard pairing, James Duckworth and Marc Polmans, bowed out in straight sets to eighth seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut. The Frenchmen, who won 6-4 6-3, captured the career Grand Slam at AO 2019, and are no doubt hungry to add new silverware to their collection.
Elsewhere, second seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic ended the run of John Millman and Thiago Monteiro 7-6(2) 6-4, while Americans Nicholas Monroe and Frances Tiafoe were ousted by Marcus Daniel and Philipp Oswald 6-3 7-5.