Melbourne, Jan. 23 (BNA): Aryna Sabalenka reached her first quarter-final to prove she is the favorite for the Australian Open title on Monday, but fourth seed Caroline Garcia was knocked out by 17-year-old Linda Frohvertova. Running has been put to an end.
World number 45 Magda Linette ensured Poland would be represented in the quarter-finals with a stunning Garcia victory 7-6(3) 6-4, while Croatian Donna Vekic, ranked 64th in the world, held her nerve to defeat Frohvertova 6-2 1-6. 6-3, Reuters reports.
Vekic will play next time with Sabalenka, and the 30-year-old Lynette will play with former world number one Karolina Pliskova, who defeated China’s Zhang Shuai 6-0, 6-4 at the Kia Arena.
Garcia, 29, looked set to continue the late resurgence of a career that saw her reach the US Open semi-finals and win the WTA finals last year when she led 3-0 in the first set against Lynette.
It all went down hill from there, though Linette played inspirational tennis to fight her way back into the set and win it on a tiebreaker.
The second set was much the same as Linette kept her level and Garcia’s unforced errors increased, as the usually quiet Frenchwoman showed her frustration at a series of insults that earned her a code violation.
“I don’t know what happened. I’m really speechless, I don’t know what to say,” Lynette said after Garcia served up a final long forehand to give her a place in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. .
With Linette’s younger compatriot and favorite Ija Swiatek knocked out in the fourth round on Sunday, the exits of Garcia Sabalenka and American Jessica Pegula leave the top 10 seeds in the quarter-finals.
It looks like Sabalenka has as good a chance as anyone of winning the Daphne Akhurst Trophy if she can overcome the demons that sometimes take hold when her power game doesn’t work as well as she wants.
On Monday, the 24-year-old Belarusian managed to get her head straight after falling on an early break to blast Swiss Belinda Bencic from the court 7-5, 6-2.
“I definitely felt today that I couldn’t handle her strength,” Bencic said.
“I think that was the biggest difference. But still, you know, I don’t feel like this is a really bad loss. Like, definitely in shape now.”
“A new beginning”
After repairing what appears to be the most inconsistent serve in the women’s summit, Sabalenka started the season with eight straight wins and has yet to drop a set.
“I want to believe that the way I work now and the way I work now is the new beginning,” she told reporters.
Vekic also looked like she could cruise to a straight win over Frohvertova after sealing the first set with a header but the Czech was confusing the old and the best during her fantasy campaign.
The teenager showed maturity beyond her years at key moments in the second set and played nearly flawless tennis to the contest, prompting Vekic to take a bathroom break to redeem herself.
It worked, and although Fruhvirtova continued to challenge her serve, the 26-year-old held it off to secure a place in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the first time in 11 attempts.
“It feels so good,” said an emotional Vekic.
“I didn’t really feel like I had much control in the second set but I knew I had to keep fighting, hoping and believing I was going to win.”
Nine-time men’s champion Novak Djokovic and his hamstring injury will be in the spotlight when he takes on Australian Alex de Minaur in a night session at Rod Laver Arena.