Victoria Azarenka has insisted that she is not giving much though to her potentially difficult path to a third Australian Open title.
The Belarusian arrived at the first Grand Slam of the year unseeded after a frustrating 2014 which was disrupted by injuries, but she remains confident of rising to any challenge following her impressive win over Caroline Wozniacki in the second round on Thursday.
"I think sometimes it doesn't really matter on what stage you play," Azarenka told reporters of facing Wozniacki so early in the tournament. "It's probably tougher in the beginning of the tournament. But for me I knew that I'm unseeded so I can play anybody.
"I just accept whoever is on the opposite side. She had such an incredible end of last season so I knew I had to step up my game and really take my chances today – I think I did that pretty well."
Azarenka will meet Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the third round.
Callum Mulvihill
