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Kuznetsova downs Wozniacki

Tennis
MELBOURNE — A resurgent Svetlana Kuznetsova stunned former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki in an absorbing encounter on Rod Laver Arena to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 victory yesterday.

MELBOURNE — A resurgent Svetlana Kuznetsova stunned former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki in an absorbing encounter on Rod Laver Arena to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 victory yesterday.

Report by Reuters

The former US and French Open champion, unseeded this year after an injury-disrupted 2012, prevailed in a highly competitive 75-minute third set and wrapped up her victory with a backhand volley at the net.

The 27-year-old Russian made 41 unforced errors, but 52 winners were enough to claim a place in the last eight for the third time in 12 appearances at Melbourne Park.

Victoria Azarenka was back to her ruthless best as the defending champion advanced to the Australian Open quarter-finals with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of Russia’s Elena Vesnina in less than an hour yesterday.

The world No 1 had become the first of the top four seeds to drop a set at Melbourne Park this year in the third round against an injury-hampered Jamie Hampton and said she needed to improve “everything” against Vesnina.

The Russian doubles specialist, who won her first WTA Tour title in Hobart before the tournament began, however, offered little against the tall right-hander and was simply ground down by the more powerful Belarusian. Azarenka will meet Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarter-finals.