SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2019 16 Halep sets up Serena clash Novak Djokovic relentlessly marches on to last 16 after beating Denis Shapovalov

sets and will play former world for Japan, following Osaka on ‘Asparagus’ Zverev number three Milos Raonic for a court by beating Portugal’s 44th- • place in the quarter-finals. ranked Joao Sousa in three sets. unpicks Bolt to reach Fourth seed The 29-year-old has won all Open fourth round looked down and out against three of his first week match- KNOW WHAT Taiwanese veteran Hsieh Su-wei es on Margaret Court Arena to Osaka laughs off before battling back to win 7-5, reach the last 16 for the seventh Hsieh• scare to advance 4-6, 6-1 and set up meeting with time in nine appearances. Novak Djokovic Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova. AFP | Melbourne snapped after drop- ‘Die or win’ ping the third set Osaka’s win equals the orld number one Si- against Denis Shapov- 21-year-old’s best performance mona Halep set up a alov, copping a code at the Australian Open, where Wheadline last 16 show- violation for swearing she reached the last 16 in 2018 down with by but lost to Halep. beating her sister Venus yester- ment and weather the storm,” But she looked headed for the day as Novak Djokovic’s relent- said the Serb, who was unsettled exit when she conceded the first less drive towards more Aus- when the lights were switched set and was down 4-1 in the sec- tralian Open glory cranked up on in Rod Laver Arena for tel- ond, before winning five straight another gear. evision reasons, despite it still games to force a decider. On day six at Melbourne Park, being daylight. Sixth seed the Romanian finally hit form “Completely unnecessary to struggled with a painful shoul- to pull off her best win of the turn on the lights,” he said in der that required treatment at year and cruise past the veteran roasting the organisers. every changeover, and medical American 6-2, 6-3. Djokovic’s victory means he is timeouts, before she somehow “I was super-motivated to- Romania’s plays a forehand return to of the US guaranteed to stay world num- beat China’s 4-6, day,” she said after being taken lenge but I’m ready to face it.” Fourteen-time Grand Slam ber one when the new rankings 6-4, 7-5 as temperature rose in to three sets in both her open- Williams crushed Ukrainian winner and top seed Djokovic are released after the tourna- centre court sunshine. ing two matches as she bounces Dayana Yastremska 6-2, 6-1 be- is gunning for a record seventh ment. He next plays another “I just told myself ‘you’re go- back from a herniated disc that fore consoling her at the net as Australian title. up-and-coming star, Russia’s ing to die or win’,” said Svitolina, ended her 2018 season early. the teenager burst into tears. He dropped a set for the first 15th seed Daniil Medvedev, who who scored her biggest career “I have nothing to lose,” she The ominous 37-year-old, time this year against fast-ris- eased past David Goffin and has win by clinching the WTA Finals added, looking ahead to Mon- seeded 16, has dropped just nine ing Canadian Denis Shapovalov, yet to drop a set. in Singapore last October. day’s clash against 23-time games in her three matches so before demolishing him in the Another young gun Alexander She will next meet 17th-seed- Grand Slam winner Serena. “I far on her first return to the fourth stanza to win 6-3, 6-4, Zverev made the last 16 for the ed American Madison Keys. playing against a great champi- tournament since winning it in 4-6, 6-0. first time when he swatted aside Eighth seed Kei Nishikori Serena Williams serves against Dayana on. Its’s going to a bigger chal- 2017 while pregnant. “I just tried to be in the mo- Australian Alex Bolt in three made it back-to-back victories Yastremska