AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Kerber sends Sharapova packing

MELBOURNE: Maria Sharapova was sent crashing out of the Australian Open in a crushing defeat by Angelique Kerber Saturday as Simona Halep survived a titanic struggle to make the last-16.

With the temperatures a manageable 26 Celsius at Melbourne Park after two days of oven-like conditions, the Russian was no match for the German, flopping 6-1, 6-3 in a battle of the former champions.

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev was another high-profile casualty on day six, beaten in five sets by South Korea’s Chung Hyeon to continue his miserable Grand Slam form.

Sharapova and Kerber are both 30, former world number ones and the only two Australian Open winners left in the women’s draw, but there was only one player in it.

“This court is special for me and I was trying to enjoy every point,” Kerber said of Rod Laver Arena, where she beat Serena Williams in the 2016 final.

“I knew it would be tough, Maria is a champion, and I just tried to play my game.”

Kerber is in scintillating form, having won the lead-up Sydney International.

For Sharapova, who is looking to rediscover her best on her way back from a 15-month drugs ban, it is back to the drawing board.

The same can be said for Zverev, who has been hailed as the leader of the tennis new guard but has now failed to go beyond the fourth round in 11 Grand Slams.

“I have some figuring out to do, what happens to me in deciding moments in Grand Slams,” he said after going down 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.

Halep earlier looked out for the count against 76th-ranked American Lauren Davis. But she finally got over the line 4-6, 6-4, 15-13 in a gruelling 3hr 44min epic in a contest that took its toll.

“I’m almost dead,” the tenacious Romanian said after the incredible battle, in which Davis lost a toenail and Halep served for the match four times.

“The feeling in my muscles is gone and I don’t feel my ankle anymore,” she added.

Halep, a former quarter-finalist, will next play Naomi Osaka in her quest for a maiden Grand Slam title after the Japanese star beat Australia’s Ashleigh Barty.

Sixth seed Karolina Pliskova also had a tough test, beating fellow Czech Lucie Safarova 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.

In contrast, US Open finalist Madison Keys was in fine touch as she benefits from the guidance of former great Lindsay Davenport.

Flying under the radar, the 17th seed has surrendered just 16 games on her way to the fourth round after beating Romania’s Ana Bogdan 6-3, 6-4.

“Lindsay is amazing. We’ve had three years together and she has taught me how to handle big moments like this,” said Keys, who made the Australian Open semis in 2015.

She will next test herself against French eighth seed Caroline Garcia, who was too strong for Belarussian Alaksandra Sasnovich.

Among men through was Austrian fifth seed Dominic Thiem who beat France’s Adrian Mannarino in straight sets, and veteran Tomas Berdych who saw off Juan Martin Del Potro.

American Tennys Sandgren, who had never won a Grand Slam match before this year’s Australian Open, also progressed.

Another Melbourne Park debutant Marton Fucsovics of Hungary is also enjoying his best ever Grand Slam, seeing off Argentine Nicolas Kicker.

Novak Djokovic battled with a lower back injury as he claimed his 11th round of 16 appearance at the Australian Open.

The six-time champion advanced with a clear-cut 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win over Spanish 21st seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas in 2hr 21min on the Margaret Court Arena.

But there was concern in the Serb’s camp when the former world number one sought a medical timeout early in the second set for treatment to his lower back.

Djokovic, looking for matches after six months out with right elbow trouble, will next face South Korea’s Chung Hyeon.

The injury was a fresh concern for the 12-time Grand Slam champion, whose ranking has slipped to 14 after an inactive second half of 2017.

But Djokovic was workmanlike as broke the Spaniard’s serve five times, although his errors outnumbered his winners 40-37.

“It was a straight sets win, but it was almost two-and-a-half hours, so it wasn’t that easy and comfortable on the court,” Djokovic said.

“I knew coming into the match that he was a great fighter, he grinds it out and gets a lot of balls back. Obviously for me it’s taking it one match at a time but I have to be more humble with my expectations as I haven’t played in the last six months.

“But I am very pleased where my game is at.”

Defending champion Roger Federer continued his dominance over Richard Gasquet to reach the round of 16 and keep his quest for a 20th Grand Slam title on track.

The Swiss star beat the Frenchman 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 in just under two hours in a night match on Rod Laver Arena.

Federer has unheralded Hungarian and one-time training partner Marton Fucsovics up next and a potential quarter-final with Tomas Berdych, who upset Juan Martin Del Porto in straight sets earlier Saturday.

Results: Men’s singles (3rd round): Dominic Thiem (AUT x5) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA x26) 6-4, 6-2, 7-5; Tennys Sandgren (USA) bt Maximilian Marterer (GER) 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5); Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Nicolas Kicker (ARG) 6-3, 6-3, 6-2; Fabio Fognini (ITA x25) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3; Chung Hyeon (KOR) bt Alexander Zverev (GER x4) 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 2-6, 6-3, 6-0; Tomas Berdych (CZE x19) bt Juan MartÃn Del Potro (ARG x12) 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

Women’s singles (3rd round): Karolina Pliskova (CZE x6) bt Lucie Safarova (CZE x29) 7-6 (8/6), 7-5; Madison Keys (USA x17) bt Ana Bogdan (ROM) 6-3, 6-4; Simona Halep (ROM x1) bt Lauren Davis (USA) 4-6, 6-4, 15-13; Caroline Garcia (FRA x8) bt Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) 6-3, 5-7, 6-2; Naomi Osaka (JPN) bt Ashleigh Barty (AUS x18) 6-4, 6-2; Barbora Strycova (CZE x20) bt Bernarda Pera (USA) 6-2, 6-2; Angelique Kerber (GER x21) bt Maria Sharapova (RUS) 6-1, 6-3.