Tennis: Former Australian Open champion Azarenka sets up q-final meeting with Kerber

Victoria Azarenka plays a backhand return during her women's singles match against Barbora Strycova on day eight of the 2016 Australian Open. PHOTO: AFP

MELBOURNE (REUTERS) - Twice champion Victoria Azarenka reached her fifth Australian Open quarter-final on Monday with a 6-2, 6-4 win over unseeded Czech Barbora Strycova.

The former world No.1 has been in irresistible form at Melbourne Park, winning her four matches without dropping a set, and had too many weapons for Strycova, who scrapped hard but was edged in the baseline battles.

Azarenka captured the decisive break in the seventh game of the final set and saved two break points at 4-3 before closing out the match in one hour and 26 minutes.

Azarenka's bid for a third Melbourne Park title continues against German seventh seed Angelique Kerber, who beat compatriot Annika Beck 6-4, 6-0.

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