Second-round matches completed at the Adelaide International 1 and all three Grand Slam champions in action on Thursday have made it to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 tournament in Australia.
Defending champion Iga Swiatek eased past Leylah Fernandez 6-1 6-2 in their first career meeting.
After the match, the world No.9 Swiatek expressed appreciation of her Canadian opponent: “I’m sure we will have many close matches in the future, Leylah Fernandez. Thank you for today. #respect”
Japan’s Misaki Doi took advantage of other players’ withdrawals to enter the main draw and is now through to her first WTA 500 quarterfinal since Osaka 2019 with a 7-6(4) 6-3 win over Anastasia Gasanova.
The world No.130 Gasanova had upset eighth seed Elina Svitolina in the first round, but against Doi committed 43 unforced errors, including 13 double faults.
Victoria Azarenka stopped Australian wildcard Priscilla Hon 6-3 7-5 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Swiatek.
Overall this was still a successful tournament for Hon, who had recovered from a set and a break down to upset world No.17 Petra Kvitova in the first round on Monday and register her first win over a Top 20 player.
Azarenka was also victorious in doubles with Paula Badosa on Thursday, as they reached the semifinals with a 6-2 7-5 win over Anna Blinkova and Ulrikke Eikeri.
Hon contested doubles as well, teamed up with compatriot Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz, but they lost in the round of 16 to Shelby Rogers and Heather Watson.
Playing her first tournament since 2021 Wimbledon in July, sixth seed Sofia Kenin recovered from a set and 5-3 down, and saved three match points, to battle past Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 3-6 7-6(5) 6-3.
The 2020 Australian Open champion set up a quarterfinal meeting with top-ranked Ashleigh Barty, whom she defeated en route to her sole Grand Slam title in Melbourne. The world No.12 Kenin owns three No.1 wins in career, including twice over Barty.
Friday’s schedule at the Adelaide International 1 will feature all the four quarterfinal matches. The pairs are as follows:
Elena Rybakina [7] vs. Shelby Rogers
Misaki Doi vs. Kaja Juvan
Ashleigh Barty [1] vs. Sofia Kenin [6]
Victoria Azarenka vs. Iga Swiatek [5]
