Australian Open: Two-time champ Azarenka books spot in last 16

Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, the No 24 seed, advanced to the last 16 of the Australian Open by defeating American Madison Keys, the No 10 seed, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 at Melbourne Park on Friday.

Azarenka, ranked No 24, will play the winner of the match between Chinese Lin Zhu and Greek Maria Sakkari, the No 6 seed, next.

The 33-year-old Belarusian won against American Sofia Kenin (6-4, 7-6 (3)) and Argentinian Nadia Podoroska (6-1, 6-0) ahead of her victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Keys, ranked No 13, beat Russian Anna Blinkova (6-4, 3-6, 6-2) and Chinese Xinyu Wang (6-3, 6-2).

Melbourne (Grand Slam), other third-round results (Melbourne Park, hard, USD 24.297.942, most recent results first):

• Magda Linette vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova
• Laura Siegemund vs. Caroline Garcia
• Linda Fruhvirtova vs. Marketa Vondrousova
• Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elise Mertens
• Shuai Zhang vs. Katie Volynets
• Camila Giorgi vs. Belinda Bencic
• Nuria Parrizas Diaz vs. Donna Vekic
• Varvara Gracheva vs. Karolina Pliskova
• Lin Zhu vs. Maria Sakkari
• Iga Swiatek (1) beat Cristina Bucsa (Q): 6-0, 6-1
• Jelena Ostapenko (17) beat Kateryna Baindl: 6-3, 6-0
• Coco Gauff (7) beat Bernarda Pera: 6-3, 6-2
• Jessica Pegula (3) beat Marta Kostyuk: 6-0, 6-2
• Elena Rybakina (22) beat Danielle Collins (13): 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
• Barbora Krejcikova (20) beat Anhelina Kalinina: 6-2, 6-3