Australian Open: : Kei Nishikori marches into fourth round; Sharapova in third round

maria sharapovaMelbourne: Kei Nishikori advanced into the round of 16 at Australian Open for the fifth straight year with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain, here on Friday.

Nishikori advanced to the third round after defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round, and Austin Krajicek 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 in the second round. He reached the quarter-finals in 2012.

Meanwhile, fourth seed Stan Wawrinka cruised into the third round of Australian Open with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Radek Stepanek on Thursday. The Swiss struck 43 winners and converted five of his 12 break points as he sealed victory in just over two hours on Hisense Arena.

In the women’s category, Belinda Bencic came from one set behind to beat Kateryna Bondarenko 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to move into the third round of Australian Open, here on Thursday. She will now play against 2008 champion Maria Sharapova, who earned her 600th career win over unseeded American Lauren Davis, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-0.

Meanwhile, Angelique Kerber defeated Alexandra Dulgheru (6-2, 6-4) in straight sets in an hour and 13 minutes. In other matches, No.3 seed Garbiñe Muguruza ousted Kirsten Flipkens, 6-4, 6-2, No.14 seed Victoria Azarenka edged past Danka Kovinic 6-1, 6-2 and No.15 seed Madison Keys got the better off Yaroslava Shvedova, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3.