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 Victoria Azarenka was left as the only top-three seed still
standing in the last eight when Sharapova was scratched from the
title race by Dominika Cibulkova, a day after Serena Williams had
also tumbled out in the fourth round.
In the men's draw, the "Big Four" look poised to scrap it out for
yet another grand slam crown over the next week after Nadal, Roger
Federer and Andy Murray all won on Monday to join Novak Djokovic in
the last eight.
Spaniard Nadal led the way with a 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 7-6 (7-3) victory
over Japan's Kei Nishikori on Rod Laver Arena that was by no means
as easy as the phrase "straight sets" would suggest.
The world number one had to contend with a blister on his hand, a
tumble, a time violation at a crucial moment and his first losses of
his serve in the tournament but most of all with some inspired
shot-making from the Asian number one.
"I didn't play bad today, but I didn't play as good as I did two
days ago," Nadal said, reflecting on his brilliant performance in
the third round against Gael Monfils.
"But today's victory has much more value than the victory of two
days ago. Because when you are playing that good, the normal thing
is to win.
"When you are playing normal and the opponent is a good one, and you
are able to keep winning, that has much more value."
While Nadal will meet Sharapova's boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov for a
place in the semi-finals, Federer and Murray's quarter-final date
ensures that at least one of the quartet of dominant men's players
will go home on Wednesday.
Federer's quickfire 6-3 7-5 6-4 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was
the most impressive of the day, particularly given the French 10th
seed had taken him to five sets in Melbourne and beaten him at
Roland Garros last year.
"I definitely felt momentum was on my side, no doubt," said the
Swiss 17-times grand slam champion.
"I started the match well. Did I break first game? I think I did. I
felt, alright, things are working for me tonight. Let me try to run
away with it."
Murray also looked to be racing to victory against Stephane Robert,
the first lucky loser to reach the fourth round in Melbourne, but
blew a couple of match points in the third set and was dragged into
a tiebreak, which the Frenchman won 8-6.
The Wimbledon champion took out his frustrations on his a racket,
changed his shirt and then whipped through the fourth set to record
a 6-1 6-2 6-7 (6) 6-2 victory.
"I dominated 95 percent of the match, and for 15 minutes didn't
close the match out," said the fourth seed.
"But I still created chances, even when I wasn't playing so well at
the end of that third set. So it was pretty good for the most part."
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Like Murray, Sharapova missed the back end of last season
because of injury and she admitted after her 3-6 6-4 6-1 defeat
to Cibulkova that the tournament had probably come a little bit
early for her.
"I certainly would have loved to played a little bit more before
playing a grand slam, but this is the chance that I was given,"
said the Russian third seed, the 2008 champion here.
"It's tough. I will be genuine about it. It's never easy (but)
it's moments like this that ultimately shape you and make you
who you are."
"CHIPS AND SALSA"
Azarenka was utterly dominant as she swept into the
quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-2 victory over American Sloane
Stephens that extended her winning streak at Melbourne Park to
18 matches.
The win had none of the edge of last year's semi-final between
the pair, when Azarenka took a medical timeout after blowing
five match points.
Both Azarenka and Stephens had played down the controversy and
the second seeded Belarusian said she could not have felt more
at home on the same Rod Laver Arena where she was booed last
year.
"I just love playing here," she said. "It feels so cozy. It
feels like I'm in my living room, on my couch. I can have some
chips and salsa — that's how it feels."
Azarenka denied the departure of Williams and Sharapova had made
her a strong favorite for a third straight title.
"We've seen over the last couple of days that somebody can bring
their best game on any given day," she said.
Next up for Azarenka is fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat
rising Spanish talent Garbine Muguruza 6-1 6-3 in the final
match of the day.
Cibulkova's reward for beating Sharapova is a meeting with
Simona Halep, who beat eighth seed Jelena Jankovic 6-4 2-6 6-0
to reach her first grand slam quarter-final.
"There's no pressure on me so I can just enjoy the
quarter-finals," Romanian Halep said. "It's my chance and I have
to fight for it."
Dimitrov, also entering unknown territory in the second week of
a grand slam, beat Spain's Roberto Bautista 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-4 to
set up his last eight date with Nadal.
"He's Rafa. We all know him," said the confident 22-year-old
Bulgarian. "But I'm quite happy with the way I'm performing so
far. So I like my chances."
(Editing by Justin Palmer)
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