Tweet
Australian Open, Melbourne
Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 17-30 January
Coverage: Watch on BBC TV, Red Button, BBC Sport website (UK only) & Eurosport; listen on BBC 5 live sports extra and online; text commentary online; full details
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki overcame a sluggish start to overcome Anastasija Sevastova 6-3 6-4 and make her first quarter-final at the Australian Open.
Wozniacki, eyeing her first Grand Slam, was blown away by the 46th seed Latvian to trail 3-1 but five successive games handed the 20-year-old the opening set.
Sevastova showed glimpses of a recovery with an early break, but the Dane edged through despite the continuing errors.
Wozniacki will play Svetlana Kuznetsova or the sixth seed Francesca Schiavone.
A delighted and relieved Wozniacki said: "Sevastova is a tough opponent and she mixes the game up well. She makes it tough to get any rhythm but I pulled though and I'm very pleased to make the quarters."
The battle between the two youngest women left in the draw began in intriguing fashion with the 20-year-old Latvian, who had never previously got beyond round two in a Grand Slam, dominating the number one seed.
Wozniacki has been far from her best this week in Melbourne and a shock defeat looked on the cards in the first 20 minutes as she lost her opening serve and then found herself 3-1 behind.
The wobbles continued when she was serving at 30-30 in the fifth game but the 2009 US Open runner-up seemed to be inspired by her struggles and finally took the game thanks to two blistering backhands.
With Rod Laver Arena bathed in scorching sun, Sevastova, whose tournament preparations were hampered by bronchitis, looked to be suffering with the conditions and as her unforced error count reached 19, her opponent pounced to take the first set.
Breaking to love at the start of the second set secured Wozniacki's sixth game in a row, but then the mistakes returned as both exchanged breaks of serve.
Wozniacki looked to be cruising at 4-2 but Sevastova finally showed some of her earlier form and levelled at 4-4.
Fans of the blonde Dane were finally given some relief as their player steadied the ship to break in the ninth game before stumbling through her service game to secure a hard-earned, if a little shaky, victory.
Print Sponsor
Business Forum | Christian Forum | Coupon Forum | Discussion Forum | Gamers Forum
Legal Forum | Politics Forum | Sports Forum | Teen Forum | Webmaster Forum
Venue: Melbourne Park Dates: 17-30 January
Coverage: Watch on BBC TV, Red Button, BBC Sport website (UK only) & Eurosport; listen on BBC 5 live sports extra and online; text commentary online; full details
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki overcame a sluggish start to overcome Anastasija Sevastova 6-3 6-4 and make her first quarter-final at the Australian Open.
Wozniacki, eyeing her first Grand Slam, was blown away by the 46th seed Latvian to trail 3-1 but five successive games handed the 20-year-old the opening set.
Sevastova showed glimpses of a recovery with an early break, but the Dane edged through despite the continuing errors.
Wozniacki will play Svetlana Kuznetsova or the sixth seed Francesca Schiavone.
A delighted and relieved Wozniacki said: "Sevastova is a tough opponent and she mixes the game up well. She makes it tough to get any rhythm but I pulled though and I'm very pleased to make the quarters."
The battle between the two youngest women left in the draw began in intriguing fashion with the 20-year-old Latvian, who had never previously got beyond round two in a Grand Slam, dominating the number one seed.
Wozniacki has been far from her best this week in Melbourne and a shock defeat looked on the cards in the first 20 minutes as she lost her opening serve and then found herself 3-1 behind.
The wobbles continued when she was serving at 30-30 in the fifth game but the 2009 US Open runner-up seemed to be inspired by her struggles and finally took the game thanks to two blistering backhands.
With Rod Laver Arena bathed in scorching sun, Sevastova, whose tournament preparations were hampered by bronchitis, looked to be suffering with the conditions and as her unforced error count reached 19, her opponent pounced to take the first set.
Breaking to love at the start of the second set secured Wozniacki's sixth game in a row, but then the mistakes returned as both exchanged breaks of serve.
Wozniacki looked to be cruising at 4-2 but Sevastova finally showed some of her earlier form and levelled at 4-4.
Fans of the blonde Dane were finally given some relief as their player steadied the ship to break in the ninth game before stumbling through her service game to secure a hard-earned, if a little shaky, victory.
Print Sponsor
Business Forum | Christian Forum | Coupon Forum | Discussion Forum | Gamers Forum
Legal Forum | Politics Forum | Sports Forum | Teen Forum | Webmaster Forum