Australian Open: Serena Williams bounces off the floor to reach last eight as Naomi Osaka advances and Dominic Thiem is knocked out
- Williams suffers an injury scare but she gets back on her feet to score a three-set victory over Aryna Sabalenka to reach the quarter-finals
- Dimitrov knocks out US Open champions Dominic Thiem while Osaka saves two match points to top Garbiñe Muguruza
Serena Williams tumbled to the ground, her heavily taped right ankle turning, her body contorting, her racquet flying.
This was early in the second set of a competitive match-up in the Australian Open’s fourth round against a younger version of herself – stinging serves, huge groundstroke cuts, a fierce streak – and during a stretch on Sunday when things seemed to be slipping away.
Williams quickly put up a hand to indicate she was OK, tied the laces of her right shoe and, while it took her a bit to regain control, she did so, just in the nick of time. Grabbing the last two games, Williams pulled out 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory over No 7 seed Aryna Sabalenka to reach the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.
While Serena was moving into the next round, US Open champion Dominic Thiem tumbled out after being beaten 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 by Grigor Dimitrov, who reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the fourth time. Naomi Osaka barely advanced, saving two match points and grabbing the last four games to top Garbiñe Muguruza 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Two years ago at this tournament, Williams was on the verge of a quarter-final win when she hurt her ankle and ended up losing.
