MELBOURNE, Australia — Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka walked onto Rod Laver Arena knowing that the No. 2- and No. 3-ranked players were already out of the tournament and that the draw appeared to be opening up in her favor.
She blinked at first, when Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka broke her at love in the first game of their third-round match, but recovered quickly and responded with a 6-1, 6-1 win in 56 minutes.
The 14th-seeded Azarenka, back in form after two injury-interrupted seasons, has dropped just five games in three matches at Melbourne Park after warming up with a title at the Brisbane International.