Australian Open 2018: Women's Day 4 Review

Day 4 continued with the remaining second round matches.

Simona Halep dispatched Canadian Eugenie Bouchard 6-2, 6-2 without any trouble. The World No. 1 was not hampered by the ankle injury she had in the first round. Halep gained some revenge as the last time they had met at a Grand Slam was at the 2014 Wimbledon where Halep lost to Bouchard in the semi-finals.

Maria Sharapova advanced to the next round in straight sets

Maria Sharapova also gained some revenge by beating her US Open conqueror Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets 6-1, 7-6(4). Sharapova, the 2008 champion, will next play the only other former Australian Open champion in the draw, Angelique Kerber, who won the tournament in 2016. Kerber celebrated her 30th birthday by beating Donna Vekic in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.

In the biggest upset so far, third seed Garbine Muguruza was knocked out by World No. 88 Su-Wei Hsieh 6-7(1) 4-6. Muguruza was bothered by the heat as she took a medical timeout. She had 5 double faults and 43 unforced errors.

In another upset, ninth seed Johanna Konta, was beaten by Bernarda Pera 4-6, 5-7. Pera is a lucky loser and is playing in her first Grand Slam. Veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni lost to Aliaksandra Sasnovich 3-6, 1-6 and 16th seed Elena Vesnina lost to Naomi Osaka, 6-7(4), 2-6.

American Madison Keys took just 41 minutes to beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-0, 6-1. Home hope, Ashleigh Barty came back from a set down to beat Camila Giorgi 5-7, 6-4, 6-1. Sixth seed Karolína Plískova beat Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-1, 6-1.

Agnieszka Radwanska beat Lesia Tsurenko in three sets 2-6, 7-5, 6-3. Eighth seed Caroline Garcia put out Marketa Vondrousova in three sets 6-7(3), 6-2, 8-6 in a hard-fought contest. Day 5 will see the start of the third round.