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 It is the first time four women from the traditional tennis
powerhouse, which has relied on the Williams sisters for much of
their grand slam success in the past decade, have made the last 16
at a major since Roland Garros in 2013.
The sisters were joined in the last 16 by the two Madisons - Brengle
and Keys - who will play each other - with the 19-year-old Keys
upsetting twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-4 7-5 in the last
match of the day.
"I think my hands are still shaking," said Keys, who is coached by
former number one Lindsay Davenport. "I'm excited to play Maddie in
the next round."
Twice champion Victoria Azarenka also advanced after a 6-4 6-4
victory over 25th seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and will now meet
last year's beaten finalist Dominika Cibulkova.
FEDERER SHADOW
With Roger Federer's surprise exit on Friday still hanging over the
tournament, the men's favorites had some nervous moments in their
third round clashes on Saturday.
 Djokovic was forced into a first set tiebreak by former top-10
player Verdasco, while fifth seed Kei Nishikori also dropped the
first set tiebreak before he beat Steve Johnson.
Johnson and 19th-seed John Isner, who was beaten by Luxembourg's
Gilles Muller, were the last American men in the singles
competition, though North America will be represented in the fourth
round by Canada's Milos Raonic.
Djokovic's match, which was temporarily halted before the third set
as Verdasco took a timeout, did have another distraction with a
marriage proposal in the stands that the world number one applauded
when the woman accepted.
"I'm sure he was very happy when she said yes," a smiling Djokovic
said. "It's nice to see this moment."
Men's champion Stan Wawrinka, pleased to be out of the glare of many
people, also continued his quiet progression with a clinical victory
over tricky lefthander Jarkko Nieminen.
"I'm not the focus on the tournament because there's Novak, Rafa
coming back from injury, Roger also just lost, there's Kyrgios,
Tomic still playing," Wawrinka said.
"For me, doesn't matter."
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OMINOUS PORTENT
While Azarenka continues to lurk as a danger to anyone in the top
half of the draw, an ominous portent developed over the rest of the
women's field with the Williams' sisters success.
The last time the siblings reached the last 16 at Melbourne Park,
Serena went on to win her fifth Australian Open title.
It was also the last time the 18-times grand slam winner lifted the
Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.
The world number one beat Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 4-6 6-2 6-0,
while 18th seed Venus also needed a set to get going before she beat
Italy's Camila Giorgi 4-6 7-6(3) 6-1 to make her first grand slam
fourth round since Wimbledon in 2011.
"That feels fantastic especially when things happen in your life
that are not in your control," said Venus, who struggles with
Sjogren's syndrome, an auto-immune disease that can cause joint pain
and fatigue.
"But I don't want to stop now, I want to keep it going.
"This little cat has a few tricks up her sleeve."
The 34-year old will now meet women's sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska
who also continued her largely untroubled progress with a 6-0 7-5
win over another American Varvara Lepchenko, while Serena will play
the enigmatic Garbine Muguruza.
The hard-hitting Spaniard beat Serena last year in the second round
at Roland Garros and the tall right hander said that victory, while
a 'perfect game', was not a factor on the Melbourne hard courts.
"I think I don't have nothing to lose," the 21-year-old said. "Just
another match, same game, same concentration.
"Nothing new. ... I don't think I have pressure."
(Editing by Sudipto Ganguly/Alan Baldwin)
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