MELBOURNE, Australia — Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka walked onto Rod Laver Arena knowing that the No. 2- and No. 3-ranked players were already out of the tournament and that the draw appeared to be opening up in her favor.

She blinked at first, when Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka broke her at love in the first game of their third-round match, but recovered quickly and responded with a 6-1, 6-1 win in 56 minutes.

The 14th-seeded Azarenka, back in form after two injury-interrupted seasons, has dropped just five games in three matches at Melbourne Park after warming up with a title at the Brisbane International.

Azarenka had 24 winners to only four for Osaka, who was making her Grand Slam main draw debut.

“She’s a little unpredictable and she surprised me with her game,” said Azarenka.

She will next play 48th-ranked Barbora Strycova, who upset third-seeded Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-2.

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Milos Raonic dedicated his third-round victory, a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win over Viktor Troicki on Margaret Court Arena, to victims of a shooting in a remote community in Saskatchewan, Canada, that left four people dead and at least two injured.

The 25-year-old Canadian, his voice sounding emotional at times, told the crowd: “Today, before I stepped out on court it was a difficult day back home.”

“I want to take a moment and give thoughts to that community. Today’s victory was for that community, and a quick recovery and all of Canada, and I’m sure the world is behind you.”

Raonic’s next opponent will be 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, the No. 4 seed, who beat Lukas Rosol 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (3).

Another big server, 10th-seeded American John Isner, advanced with a 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4 win over Fernando Lopez. Isner had 44 aces.

In the women’s draw, Azarenka is one of three Australian Open champions remaining – six-time winner Serena Williams and 2008 winner Maria Sharapova are in the other half and could meet in the quarterfinals.

Muguruza’s rapid rise to the No. 3 ranking sharpened the focus on her run in Australia, attention that only increased after No. 2-ranked Simona Halep and No. 8 Venus Williams lost in the first round.

It didn’t help Muguruza, though, with her loss to Strycova extending a disappointing follow-up in majors since a breakthrough run to last year’s Wimbledon final. She lost in the second round at the U.S. Open.

Her loss left No. 7 Angelique Kerber as the highest-ranked player in the bottom half of the draw. Kerber and Azarenka could meet in the quarterfinals.


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