Italian Open: Azarenka takes out Sakkari to book last-eight spot

Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the No 24 seed, moved into the last 8 of the Italian Open by winning against Greek Maria Sakkari, the No 5 seed, 6-4, 6-1 at the Foro Italico in Rome on Monday evening.

Azarenka, ranked No 24, will face American Danielle Collins, the No 13 seed, next.

The 34-year-old Belarusian beat Pole Magda Linette (6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3) and Egyptian Mayar Sherif (6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-3) in the previous rounds of the Rome tournament.

Earlier in the tournament, Sakkari, ranked No 8, won against French qualifier Varvara Gracheva (6-2, 6-2) and Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina, the No 30 seed (7-6 (4), 6-0).

Rome WTA 1000, other last 16 results (Foro Italico, clay, USD 5.509.771, most recent results first):

• Elina Svitolina vs. Aryna Sabalenka: monday
• Danielle Collins beat Irina-Camelia Begu: 6-0, 6-3
• Jelena Ostapenko (9) beat Rebecca Sramkova (Q): 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3)
• Iga Swiatek (1) beat Angelique Kerber: 7-5, 6-3
• Coco Gauff (3) beat Paula Badosa: 5-7, 6-4, 6-1
• Qinwen Zheng (7) beat Naomi Osaka: 6-2, 6-4
• Madison Keys (18) beat Sorana Cirstea (28): 6-2, 6-1