Wozniacki wows fans at Australian Open

Caroline Wozniacki has successfully played a tweener for the first time in a competitive match en route to a spot in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in action against Magdalena Rybarikova.

Even the trick shots are working for Caroline Wozniacki at the Australian Open. (AAP)

Brimming with confidence and "playing with house money", Caroline Wozniacki landed a rare tweener en route to a 6-3 6-0 Australian Open demolition of Magdalena Rybarikova.

Wozniacki played the spectacular between-the-legs shot - hardly ever seen in women's tennis- in the fifth game of the opening set of her fourth-round rout on Sunday.

Even though Rybarikova was able to put it away for a winner, the world No.2 was well-pleased with her effort.

"That's the first time in a match," Wozniacki said after storming into the Open quarter-finals in 63 minutes.

"If I may so myself, I'm pretty proud of that.

"I've made a few tweeners in practice but never in a match, and even in practice I sometimes make a fool of myself."

Still searching for a maiden grand slam title after more than a decade at the top level, the second seed from Denmark needed barely an hour to end the challenge of No.19 seed Rybarikova.

It was a far cry from her second-round struggles against Croatian journeywoman Jana Fett, when the Dane had to save two match points before emerging with a gritty victory.

"Being almost out of the tournament, you have nothing to lose after that," said Wozniacki, who ended 2017 on a high with victory at the WTA Tour finals.

"You just go out there and you enjoy yourself."

Wozniacki followed up the escape act against Fett with a straight-forward third-round victory over Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens and the even more comprehensive win over Rybarikova.

"I'm playing with house money," she said.

"I was already out of the tournament and on my way home."

Wozniacki will face a familiar opponent in the last eight in Carla Suarez Navarro, who came from a set and two breaks down against No.32 seed Anett Kontaveit from Estonia to win 4-6 6-4 8-6.

The Spanish veteran won six straight games from 4-1 down in the second set before Kontaveit recovered her composure to turn the deciding set into a dogfight.

Three of Suarez Navarro's six appearances in grand slam quarter-finals have come at Melbourne Park, although she is yet to progress further on any of the sport's biggest four stages.

"I feel really good right now. I'm really happy," said Suarez Navarro.

"Always when you reach the quarter-finals or the finals round, you must be happy."

Wozniacki holds a 4-2 career win-loss advantage over the Spaniard, whose elegant one-handed backhand makes her a rare exception on the women's tour.

"We've played a lot of times together and I know how she plays," said Suarez Navarro.

"I know how tough she is. It will be a really tough match.

"She's fighting every ball, but at the same time she can play aggressively."

Before this tournament, Kontaveit had won only six of 17 singles matches at grand slam level, including first-round departures at the 2016 and 2017 Australian Open.


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Source: AAP



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