Azarenka wins third-round Open clash

Victoria Azarenka, the unseeded two-time Australian Open champion, has beaten Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova to reach the fourth round at Melbourne Park.

Victoria Azarenka celebrates her win over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka has reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park. (AAP)

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka's hot run at Melbourne Park continued on Saturday, when she reached the fourth round in straight sets.

Azarenka, unseeded and ranked 44th in the world after a foot injury ruined her 2014 season, downed Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova 6-4 6-4 on Margaret Court Arena.

Azarenka saved five break points in the opening set, when she broke the Czech world No.23's serve with the score 4-4.

Both women struggled to hold serve in the second set, but again at 4-4 it was Azarenka who won a decisive sixth break point of the match.

Azarenka needed 10 points, including an epic 17-stroke rally, in the next game but held serve to complete the win in one hour and 46 minutes.

It is the third straight-sets victory of the week for former world No.1 Azarenka, who won the tournament in 2012 and 2013.

The Belarusian earlier took down eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki and Sloane Stephens - the woman she met in a 2013 semi-final at Melbourne Park.

Azarenka next faces last year's Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova.

If the 25-year-old ousts 11th seed Cibulkova, a blockbuster quarter-final against five-time champion Serena Williams is likely to await.

Williams takes on Garbine Muguruza in her next clash.


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