Ruthless Sabalenka, Gauff into quarters

Aryna Sabalenka celebrates match point v Amanda Anisimova in Melbourne yesterday. Pic/AFP; (right) Coco Gauff

Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff powered into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday with ruthless straight-sets wins.

Defending champion Sabalenka has been in imperious touch in Melbourne and was again dominant against unseeded Amanda Anisimova on Margaret Court Arena, sweeping past the American 6-3, 6-2.

Fourth seed Gauff, attempting to become the first woman to back up a US Open title with a Grand Slam win in Australia since Naomi Osaka in 2018-19, has been almost as impressive.

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She swatted aside Poland's unseeded Magdalena Frech 6-1, 6-2 in just 63 minutes on Rod Laver Arena. "There is no better court in Australia than Rod Laver," said Gauff, 19, who had never progressed beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park.

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