Azarenka eases into Australian Open last 16

MELBOURNE: Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka eased into the last 16 at Melbourne Park on Saturday, saying she was more relaxed than ever and having fun on court.

Azarenka, who is unseeded as she returns from a horror 2014 when she battled injury and depression, cruised past Czech 25th seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-4, 6-4.

The 25-year-old Belarusian, whose win set up fourth-round showdown with last year´s finalist Dominika Cibulkova, seeded 11, said she was feeling no pressure at the season opening Grand Slam.

Azarenka, who appeared intense and introverted at Melbourne Park in previous years, has opened up this year, dancing on court after her victories and winning over the Australian crowds for the first time.

"I´m having a lot more fun," she said, "I´m just being me. I say what I want to say. I laugh when I want to laugh. I play how I want to play. I grunt when I want to grunt."

She said her trials, which included a string of foot injuries and a broken romance with musician and reality television personality Redfoo, had made her better prepared to deal with the pressures of the tennis world.

"Being able to control those doubts, really fight through them," she said.

"They´re going to come up -- you just have to be able to accept that challenge and really grind. Compete (and) grind those things that make you work through all those doubts."

Aside from the new-found off-field maturity, which has included cultivating friendships with fellow players on tour, Azarenka said she had come back with an improved game.

"I do feel I played better than I was playing two years ago... I think my game evolved," she said. (AFP)