Kerber thrashes Sharapova as Zverev crashes out
January 20, 2018
German number one Angelique Kerber delivered a statement of intent at the Australian Open on Saturday as she thrashed Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-3 to reach the fourth round.
The 2016 Melbourne winner saw off the 2008 champion in little over an hour, breaking the Russian's serve five times.
"This court is special for me and I was trying to enjoy every point," Kerber said of the Rod Laver Arena, where she beat Serena Williams in the 2016 final.
Having already won the Sydney International in the build-up to the first grand slam of the season, 30-year-old Kerber has started the year in great form and is odds-on to beat Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei and advance to the quarterfinals.
Elsewhere in the women's draw, world number one Simona Halep came through a marathon match to beat Lauren Davis of the United States 4-6, 6-4, 15-13.
In a titanic struggle lasting three hours and 44 minutes, the Romanian survived three match points and served for the match four times herself while her American opponent battled on despite losing a toenail. "I'm almost dead!" Halep exclaimed after finally progressing to the fourth round, where Japan's Naomi Osaka .
Disappointing Zverev leads German men's exodus
German interest in the men's draw is over after Alexander Zverev failed to match compatriot Kerber's achievement, crashing out in five sets against South Korea's Chung Hyeon, 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 3-6, 0-6.
Zverev's shock exit means that not one of the initial ten German players in the men's draw has made it past the second round.
Meanwhile, six-times Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic overcame a back problem as he beat Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-2, 6-3, 6-3. After holding serve to lead 2-1 in the second set, the 14th seed took a medical time-out in the Margaret Court Arena to have treatment on his lower back.
"[It's] nothing major," Djokovic assured reporters after the two hours and 21 minutes match. "I haven't played for six months. We have to take that into consideration. I'm forced to be very cautious of what happens day-to-day. I deal with it. It's fine. I finished the match. I'm very pleased for that."
Second seed and reigning champion Roger Federer eased into the second week of the Australian Open for the 16th time in his career after beating France's Richard Gasquet 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 in just under two hours on Saturday to remain on track for a 20th grand slam title.
mf/jh (AFP, RTRE)