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MELBOURNE, Australia — Just before she walked on court, Greta Arn said she was looking forward to the “privilege” of playing her first match against Serena Williams.
Some privilege.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion overpowered Arn 6-1, 6-1 in 59 minutes Saturday for her 17th straight win at the Australian Open.
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus serves to Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic during their fourth round match today at the Australian Open.
- John Donegan /AP
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The mismatch was so great that the crowd was muted, rousing themselves only when Arn won her two games and when Williams completed her third-round victory.
Williams, who racked up her 501st career match win, is hoping to become the second woman over age 30 to win the Australian title in the Open era.
“It makes me feel really good,” she said of her Hungarian opponent's remarks. “I'm really proud of the work that I've been doing for so many years, all the hard work.”
Vania King’s loss to Ana Ivanovic left Williams as the only American player left in either singles draw. John Isner lost Friday, the last American man to exit.
Azarenka was an early winner today, beating Iveta Benesova 6-2, 6-2 to become the first player to reach the quarterfinals.
Next up for Williams is unseeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova. After that, things are likely to get a lot tougher. Sharapova is a potential quarterfinal opponent, and Wimbledon champion Kvitova may await in the semifinals.
“I’m nowhere near where I want to be,” said Williams, who came into the tournament nursing a sprained left ankle. “I’m just trying to play through it. A little rusty, just trying to play through my rust.”
Sharapova and Kvitova joined Williams in advancing to the fourth round on Saturday. Between the three of them, they lost six games.
No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic routed Nicolas Mahut 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 in 1 hour, 14 minutes to give the Frenchman a lousy 30th birthday present.
Djokovic likely gets an evening slot for his fourth-round match against Lleyton Hewitt. The 30-year-old Australian downed promising Canadian Milos Raonic 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in Saturday’s final match of the day before a raucous home crowd.
Playing in his 16th straight Australian Open, Hewitt needed three match points in the final game to close out the win and become the first wild card entry to reach the fourth round in Melbourne since Mats Wilander in 1994.
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