A GRAND Slam bolter and a couple of Grand Slam winners all booked spots in the quarter finals as the first half of the draw was down to just four competitors remaining in the Australian Open for 2020.

Two days after topping a 23-time Grand Slam winner in Serena Williams, China’s Wang Qiang suffered the same fate, bowing out of the Australian Open after going down to this year’s bolter, Ons Jabeur. The world number 78 had never reached past the first round at Melbourne Park, but with a stunning run at the 2020 edition, has booked a spot in the final eight. The fourth round exit was also the best achievement for Qiang, having reached the third round last year. Jabeur won 7-6 6-1 in 77 minutes, hitting 29 winners and only 31 unforced errors, while winning 71 per cent of her first and 67 per cent of her second serve points. She also broke four times to two, and while Qiang was still solid across the board, she could not match the hitting power and consistency of Jabeur.

The Tunisian now takes on 14th seed American, Sofia Kenin after she got past another bolter in this year’s Open by defeating 15-year-old Coco Gauff. After knocking out last year’s winner, Naomi Osaka, Gauff was on everyone’s lips as a sneaky chance for the title but like Qiang, went out in the very next match to a consistent Kenin. It was not without a fight though, as Gauff claimed the first set in a tiebreaker before her more experienced compatriot took control with a 6-7 6-3 6-0 triumph. The third set would be a bitter pill to swallow for the teenager who only managed six points on-serve and a total of 15 all up in the set. Kenin was completely dominant with 72 per cent winning record on her first serve points, and a 54 per cent record on her second serve points. She also hit 28 winners and 37 per cent of her receiving points in a good day out at Melbourne Park.

Petra Kvitova booked a quarter final spot with a come-from-behind three-set win over 22nd seed, Maria Sakkari. The left-handed Czech went down in the first set tiebreaker before picking up the slack with an impressive last two sets to win 6-7 6-3 6-2 in two hours and 12 minutes. The world number eight hit five aces, won 69 per cent of her first serve points, and hit 33 winners throughout the contest. She also did well upon approaching the net, winning two thirds of her points, compared to Sakkari’s 43 per cent. Both players managed to have their fair share of breaks with the Greek talent breaking four times, but Kvitova managing the feat eight times from 18 opportunities. It will be the fourth time Kvitova has made a quarter final at Melbourne Park, with her final loss last year being her best effort to date. Sakkari went one better than her third round last year by bowing out in the Round of 16.

Now Kvitova faces the world number one and home nation representative, Ash Barty. The Australian got past 18th seed Alison Riske despite a minor slip-up in the second set, to post a 6-3 1-6 6-4 victory over the American in an hour and 36 minutes. The deciding set was going down to the wire and at 5-4 up, Barty made her move by breaking Riske in the tenth game to win the match and book a spot in the quarter finals. Barty was strong on serve for the majority of the contest, winning 80 per cent of her first serve points, but was weaker on her second serve, winning just seven of a possible 25 points in the match. Riske was more consistent on her second serve with a 62 per cent success rate, but only won 60 per cent of her first serves. It was not the world number one’s finest match with 20 winners but 34 unforced errors, though she pulled through when challenged and got the job done.

[1] A. Barty (AUS) defeated [18] A. Riske (USA) 6-3 1-6 6-4
[7] P. Kvitova (CZE) defeated [22] M. Sakarri (GRE) 6-7 6-3 6-2
[14] S. Kenin (USA) defeated C. Gauff (USA) 6-7 6-3 6-0
O. Jabeur (TUN) defeated [27] Q. Wang (CHN) 7-6 6-1