Victoria Azarenka has claimed victory over another seed at the Australian Open by beating Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova 6-4 6-4 to reach the fourth round.
A 2014 wrecked by injury stacked the odds against Azarenka at the first Grand Slam of the year, but she continued an impressive campaign to add to wins over Sloane Stephens and Caroline Wozniacki.
Azarenka, a winner in Melbourne in 2012 and 2013, secured an early break of serve, but her own struggles allowed 25th seed Zahlavova-Strycova to draw level in the sixth game.
However, it was the Belarusian who made another crucial breakthrough before converting set point at the third time of asking to win the opener.
The second set was a story of two vulnerable serves as Zahlavova-Strycova fell a double-break behind, only to be back in the match when Azarenka gifted her Czech opponent two breaks of her own.
There was still time for three more losses of serve, but it was Azarenka who pulled ahead for the final time in the ninth game.
Zahlavova-Strycova wasted two break points in the pivotal game, and Azarenka capitalised to set up a fourth-round clash with 11th seed Dominika Cibulkova.
Callum Mulvihill
