MELBOURNE, Australia, Sporting Alert – Latest 2018 Australian Open Women’s Singles results from the third-round on Day 5 at Melbourne Park on Friday, Jan. 19.
The Australian Open is the first Grand Slam of the year.
No. 2 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark eased her way to a 6-4 6-3 victory over Netherlands’ Kiki Bertens to book a fourth-round spot.
Unlike her second-round matchup with world No. 119 Jana Fett when she needed to save two match points, Wozniacki made comfortable work of 30th seeded Bertens to wrap up the contest in one hour and 26 minutes under the Rod Laver Arena lights.
“I’m now playing with house money, I have nothing to lose,” said Wozniacki, who was knocked out in the third-round last year.
“At this point I was out of the tournament (in 2017) and on my way home. I got a second chance and I want to take it, to see how far I can go.”
The 27-year-old, still hunting her maiden Grand Slam will face world No. 20 Magdalena Rybarikova in the last 16.
“I end last season strong, I had a great offseason and it’s great to be back here and playing these night session matches, it’s awesome,” added Wozniacki.
“I’ll expect a similar type of match. She has a huge serve and forehand, so I need to be ready for everything.
“I need to be able to change the directions and get deep returns. That will be my focus.”
Elsewhere, No. 4 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine overwhelmed her 15-year-old compatriot Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-2.
“It’s sad that it was against a Ukrainian girl. That’s always tough,” Svitolina said.
“(Kostyuk) always fights until the end. She has a very bright future and you’re definitely going to hear a lot more about her.”
Rybarikova of Slovakia beat Ukraine’s Kateryna Bondarenko 7-5 3-6 6-1 to earn a fourth-round slot as well.
Meanwhile, French Open champion and No. 7 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia was stunned by Estonia’s 32nd-seed Anett Kontaveit.
Kontaveit advanced with a 6-3 1-6 6-3 win over Ostapenko and progressed to the fourth round of a grand slam for the second time.
2018 Australian Open Women’s Singles Results: Day 5
Third-Round at Melbourne Park – Friday, Jan. 19.
2-Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) def. 30-Kiki Bertens (NED) 6-4 6-3
4-Elina Svitolina (UKR) def. Marta Kostyuk (UKR) 6-2 6-2
32-Anett Kontaveit (EST) def. 7-Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 6-3 1-6 6-3
19-Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) def. Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) 7-5 3-6 6-1
Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) def. Kaia Kanepi (EST) 3-6 6-1 6-3
Petra Martic (CRO) def. Luksika Kumkhum (THA) 6-3 3-6 7-5
Elise Mertens (BEL) def. Alize Cornet (FRA) 7-5 6-4
Denisa Allertova (CZE) def. Magda Linette (POL) 6-1 6-4
