Australian Open: Sharapova claims 600th win, Serena Williams through

Maria Sharapova overcame a second-set blip to record the 600th win of her career at the expense of Lauren Davis and move into the fourth round of the Australian Open, while Serena Williams needed only 44 minutes to progress to the last 16.

Fifth seed Sharapova prevailed 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-0 against American outsider Davis to reach the landmark, while world number one and defending champion Williams outclassed teenager Daria Kasatkina to seal a 6-1 6-1 win.

Agnieszka Radwanska is also through to the second week, but 2015 US Open runner-up Roberta Vinci was dumped out by world number 82 Anna-Lena Friedsam on a day that saw rain cause delays on the outside courts.

HEADLINE ACTS

The manner in which Williams brushed aside rising star Kasatkina showed she is still the woman to beat in Melbourne.

The 21-time grand-slam champion did not face a single break point and came up with 27 winners, while making just eight unforced errors to send a resounding message to her rivals.

Radwanska also caught the eye in a 6-4 6-0 win over Monica Puig, while home favourite Daria Gavrilova overcame Kristina Mladenovic in a thriller to reach the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time.

SEEDS SAYING GOODBYE

Defeats for Vinci and Mladenovic ensured as many as 20 seeds have failed to make it as far as the fourth round in the first grand slam of the year.

Mladenovic, seeded 28th, went down 11-9 in a gripping final set as Gavrilova sent a partisan crowd into raptures.

Vinci has still never been beyond the third round after the experienced 13th seed from Italy was beaten 0-6 6-4 6-4 by German Friedsam.

KEY STATS

Williams won all 10 points at the net and lost just three points on serve in the entire match to teach Kasatkina a harsh lesson. Williams has now won 71 of her 80 matches in the Australian Open.

Puerto Rican Puig was unable to halt the momentum generated by Radwanska, who won the last nine games of the match to seal victory under the roof on Margaret Court Arena.

World number four Radwanska has not been knocked out before the fourth round in this tournament since 2010 and is now unbeaten in eight matches this year.

SOCIAL MEDIA SWEEP

Belinda Bencic secured her place in the fourth round and then enjoyed watching Radwanska put on a show, tweeting: "Just love watching @ARadwanska play!! #ridiculousskills #dropshotqueen."

Sharapova was presented with a cake to mark her 600th victory and later expressed her gratitude on Twitter. "Thank you for the yummy cake and memories @AustralianOpen 600 #AusOpen #600."

THEY SAID WHAT?

Gavrilova savoured the moment after marching into the fourth round, saying on court: "I’m just really excited and want to hug the whole stadium! The crowd was great and pulled me through in the end. I can't thank them enough. I can say that was probably the best win of my career."

Sharapova was clearly not aware that her third-round victory over Davis took her to the 600 mark. The Russian said: "Oh, wow, I’ve won 600 matches? Oh boy. Is this like a friendly reminder that I’m getting older? Might be?"

Williams was more than happy with the way she went about her business on Friday. "I think I played well today,” Williams said. "It was one of those days where everything I did went right. It was a good day today."

NEXT UP

Williams faces another Russian youngster, Margarita Gasparyan, in the fourth round, while Sharapova will have to get the better of Bencic in order to reach the last eight.

Radwanska will attempt to extend her winning streak against Friedsam in the fourth round. Gavrilova will come up against Carla Suarez Navarro in her maiden fourth round match at a grand slam.

RESULTS

Serena Williams (1) beat Daria Kasatkina 6-1 6-1 Agnieszka Radwanska (4) beat Monico Puig 6-4 6-0 Maria Sharapova (5) beat Lauren Davis 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-0 Carla Suarez Navarro (10) beat Elizaveta Kulichkova 6-4 2-0 (Kulichkova retired due to injury) Belinda Bencic (12) beat Kateryna Bondarenko 4-6 6-2 6-4 Anna-Lena Friedsam beat Roberta Vinci (13) 0-6 6-4 6-4 Daria Gavrilova beat Kristina Mladenovic (28) 6-4 4-6 11-9 Margarita Gasparyan beat Yulia Putintseva 6-3 6-4