Sabalenka, Pliskova into Australian Open quarterfinals

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Aryna Sabalenka and Karolina Pliskova qualified for the 2023 Australian Open quarterfinals in women's singles on Monday.

World No. 5 Sabalenka knocked out her Swiss opponent Belinda Bencic with straight sets; 7-5, 6-2 in a Round 4 match at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena.

In the quarter-finals stage, Sabalenka will play against Croatia's Donna Vekic.

Meanwhile, Pliskova beat Chinese player Shuai Zhang 6-0, 6-4 in another Round 4 match that lasted for less than an hour.

Czech Republic's Pliskova will next face Magda Linette from Poland.

Linette eliminated French fourth seed Caroline Garcia with the sets of 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 in the fourth round.

The Australian Open quarterfinals will begin on Tuesday.

The first Grand Slam of the year will end on Sunday.

- Women's singles quarterfinal pairings

Elena Rybakina vs. Jelena Ostapenko

Jessica Pegula vs. Victoria Azarenka

Karolina Pliskova vs. Magda Linette

Aryna Sabalenka vs. Donna Vekic