Osaka, Williams survive scares; Karatsev keeps fairytale run

Naomi Osaka saved two match points and Serena Williams recovered from losing her first set of the tournament as they fought their way into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday.

Japan’s Osaka edged a thriller with fellow major-winner Garbine Muguruza and Williams came through a physical test against Aryna Sabalenka to maintain her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

Unheralded Russian debutant Aslan Karatsev extended his fairytale run, and Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei, 35, reached the last eight for the first time after 16 years of trying.

Later, a tired-looking Dominic Thiem became the highest seed to fall when the US Open champion was sent tumbling out in straight sets by Grigor Dimitrov, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0.

In an empty Rod Laver Arena, with fans barred on the second day of a five-day, state-wide coronavirus lockdown, Osaka was on the verge of elimination at 3-5, 15-40 on her serve in the third set.

But the three-time major champion rattled off four points in a row and then twice broke Muguruza’s serve to prevail 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

“I felt like I was intimidated because she was playing so well,” said Osaka, after her first meeting with last year’s beaten finalist.

Williams, 39, was also meeting Sabalenka for the first time and she had to weather an onslaught from the Belarusian to reach the last eight 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

Earlier Taiwan’s Hsieh became the oldest player to make a last-eight debut in the Open era after winning 6-4, 6-2 against Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who is 14 years her junior.

Karatsev also claimed a slice of history as he became the first player in 25 years to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal on debut, stunning 20th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

“It took me two sets to find a way how to play,” Karatsev said. “In the end I got into the rhythm in the third and fifth.”