Title favourite Elina Svitolina gave fellow Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk a free tennis lesson followed by a heartfelt hug on Friday as she stormed into the round of 16 at the Australian Open.
After winning five tournaments in a career-best 2017 campaign and riding an eight-match unbeaten run this year, the No.4 seed has never been better placed to claim a first major title.
The 15-year-old Kostyuk - the winner of the 2017 Australian junior crown - had turned plenty of heads in advancing all the way from qualifying into the third round.
But she had no answers to Svitolina's consistency and poise, going down 6-2 6-2 on another scorching hot day in Melbourne.
Kostyuk committed 31 unforced errors, compared with only 11 from the racquet of Svitolina.
"How much do you have to pay Elina Svitolina to have a one-hour lesson? I got it for free," said Kostyuk, who recevied a hug from Svitolina at the net, before bursting into tears after the match.
"Honestly, I played really, really bad today.
"Credit to her, I'm not saying she's bad player. I'm just saying I played bad.
"I didn't show even maybe even 10 per cent of what I can."
Even her very best would likely not have been good enough against Svitolina - one of five players who could supplant Simona Halep as world No.1 depending on results at Melbourne Park.
"It is very special for me," said the 23-year-old Svitolina, after reaching the last 16 at the Australian Open for the first time.
"It's sad that it was against a Ukrainian girl. That's always tough.
"(Kostyuk) always fights until the end.
"She has a very bright future."
Svitolina - the only seeded player remaining in her quarter of the draw - advanced to a fourth-round clash against Czech qualifier Denisa Allertova, who moved into the last 16 at a major for the first time with a commanding 6-1 6-4 win over Poland's Magda Linette.
Petra Martic overcame the aggressive approach of Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum to also advance.
Kumkhum dominated the winners' count 44-16 but the the steadiness of Martic proved crucial as the unseeded Croatian advanced 6-3 3-6 7-5.
Martic will play Elise Mertens in the fourth round on Sunday after the Belgian ousted Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 7-5 6-4.
Distressed due to the extreme heat, Cornet looked likely to withdraw when she called a medical time-out while trailing 2-1 in the second set.
But Cornet hung tough to see out the match in conditions described by Mertens as among the toughest she had experienced.
No.19 seed Magdalena Rybarikova from Slovakia outlasted Ukrainian veteran Kateryna Bondarenko 7-5 3-6 6-1 and will face either world No.2 Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark or Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens.
Share
