Radwanska, Williams make Australian Open last eight eight

Agnieszka Radwanska had to display all her battling qualities to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals, while top seed Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova set up a mouth-watering repeat of last season's final.

Fourth seed and WTA Finals champion Radwanska was staring down the barrel of a three-set loss to Anna-Lena Friedsam after slipping to a 5-2 deficit in the decider, but the Pole fought back to win 6-7 (6-8) 6-1 7-5 against a clearly struggling Friedsam.

Williams, a six-time winner in Melbourne, had no such trouble as she thrashed Margarita Gasparyan 6-2 6-1 in under an hour.

Sharapova (5) had a more difficult afternoon against teenager Belinda Bencic, but the Russian fought to a 7-5 7-5 victory.

HEADLINE ACTS

Friedsam was playing the fourth round of a major for the first time and edged a tense opener. The world number 82 appeared on course for a famous upset, but was noticeably plagued by a thigh injury that allowed Radwanska back in the match.

Williams hit 10 winners and lost just 13 points on serve it what was a dominant performance versus 21-year-old Gasparyan.

In contrast, Sharapova needed over two hours to dispatch 12th seed Bencic. The match ended in usual circumstances when Sharapova challenged a backhand that was called out, and she was proven right.

SEEDS SAYING GOODBYE

Bencic was the only seed to exit on Sunday, although Radwanska and Carla Suarez Navarro had lucky escapes.

Spaniard Suarez Navarro (10) was whitewashed in the first set of her encounter against Daria Gavrilova.

However, Gavrilova became increasingly exasperated and animated when things did not go her way and the Australian's frustration allowed the composed Suarez Navarro to progress 0-6 6-3 6-2 to reach the last eight in Melbourne for the first time since 2009, having gone out in round one 12 months ago.

KEY STATS

Sharapova fired down 21 aces to Bencic's zero and 20 forehand winners, but she will have to improve on 47 per cent of first serves landed to beat Williams.

The Russian has won just two of 20 matches versus the world number one, losing the last 17 including last year's final.

Williams is into the last eight of the Australian Open for the 10th time in her career, and is favourite to win the competition for the seventh time.

Radwanska won her battle with Friedsam, but dropped a set for the first time in 2016.

SOCIAL MEDIA SWEEP

"What is Gavrilova doing out on the court tonight with her antics, does she not realise Rod Laver is watching her in the front row." – Gavrilova's animated frustrations did not sit well with Brad Gilbert on Twitter.

"Congratulations to @CarlaSuarezNava! Hard-working, humble, and very talented." – Suarez Navarro receives the congratulations of compatriot David Ferrer.

THEY SAID WHAT?

"Every tournament for me is just a bonus at this point in my career. So it's an interesting place to be at." Williams is not feeling under any pressure in her hunt for a 22nd grand slam.

"It's only going to be tougher, especially against Serena." Sharapova is all too aware of the task she faces to reach the semi-finals.

"She was playing amazing. I was in trouble in the third set. I hope nothing serious is wrong with her, that it's just cramps." Radwanska shows concern for Friedsam, who was in noticeable discomfort late in their epic encounter.

"That her scream is not so loud." Bencic drew laughs among the assembled media when asked what surprised her about Sharapova in their fourth-round tie.

NEXT UP

Sharapova has a disappointing record against Williams and the Russian will attempt to improve on a run of 17 straight defeats against the world number one in the quarter-finals.

Radwanska and Suarez Navarro will have to recover quickly when they meet in the last eight having won through in three sets.

On Monday, Zhang Shuai – who had never won a grand slam match before this year's tournament – looks to continue her dream run against Madison Keys (15) in round four. Johanna Konta is also performing well in Melbourne, the Australia-born Briton faces Ekaterina Makarova (21).

Victoria Azarenka is fancied by many to win the tournament and the 14th seed faces off against Barbora Strycova, while Angelique Kerber (7) faces an all-German tie with Annika Beck.

RESULTS

Serena Williams (1) beat Margarita Gasparyan 6-2 6-1Agnieszka Radwanska (4) beat Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-7 (6-8) 6-1 7-5Maria Sharapova (5) beat Belinda Bencic (12) 7-5 7-5Carla Suarez Navarro (10) beat Daria Gavrilova 0-6 6-3 6-2