Australian Open: Raonic races past Zverev, Osaka ousts Sevastova

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Canada's Milos Raonic has beaten racket-smashing no. 4-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany in straight sets to make it to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the fourth time.

The 2016 Wimbledon runners-up will face the winner of the pre-quarterfinal between world no. 11 Borna Coric and world no. 28 Lucas Pouille in the last 8.

Even though Zverev broke Raonic's first service the world no. 17 fought back hard to seal the first set 6-1. The Canadian then went on to extend his dominance in the second and managed to break his German opponents serve when it mattered the most.

Milos Raonic of Canada plays a forehand in his fourth-round match against Alexander Zverev of Germany during day eight at 2019 Australian Open. /VCG Photo

With Montenegro-born Raonic taking the match away from him, a seemingly frustrated Zverev destroyed his racket by whacking it against the ground eight times in the middle of the second set. That didn't help to change his fortune as Raonic executed an excellent service return to take the set 6-1.

The 4th seeded, however, tried to fight back in the third set with some excellent racquet works his 28-year-old opponent out-maneuvered him the tie-breaker to win the match 6-1, 6-1, 7-6.

Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova celebrates her victory against Spain's Garbine Muguruza during their women's singles match at 2019 Australian Open. /VCG Photo

In the women's draw, seventh seed Karolina Pliskova thrashed eighteenth seed Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals for the third time in succession. The Brisbane International warm-up champion had a cakewalk in the first set as she claimed it 6-3. The second turned out to be much easier for the Czech player as accomplished the easy win without burning any sweat.

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine gestures during her women's singles match against Madison Keys of the U.S. at 2019 Australian Open. /VCG Photo

Earlier, Elina Svitolina edged past Madison Keys 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 in a topsy-turvy three setter. The Ukrainian had lost her previous two matches against the American, but the WTA Finals champion unlocked the door to success this time, storming into the quarter-finals in Melbourne for the second straight year.

The Odessa-born sixth-seeded Svitolina, who was the 2017 US Open runners-up, held on to her serve to win the first set without any hiccup. But 17th-seeded Keys roared back in the second and polished off the set with an unreturnable serve to force a decider. Svitolina, however, clawed her way back into the game and outserved her opponent to win the set as well as the match to sail into the last eight.

Japan's Naomi Osaka hits a backhand in her fourth-round match against Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia at 2019 Australian Open. /VCG Photo

She will take on 2018 U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka as the Japanese sensation vanquished Anastasija Sevastova 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a hard-fought three-setter to make it to the quarters.

The fourth-seeded player conceded the first to her Latvian opponent before making amends and winning the second set 6-3. The 21-year-old kept the momentum going and grabbed the deciding third set without much hassle to wrap up the victory over the 28-year-old rival.

China's Zhang Shuai (L) and Australia's Samantha Stosur (R) in discussion during their women's doubles match of 2019 Australian Open. /VCG Photo

Meanwhile, Zhang Shuai is the only Chinese player left in the year's first major in Melbourne both across singles or doubles. Zhang along with home favorite Samantha Stosur steamrolled the pair of Alize Cornet and Petra Martic 7-5, 6-3 in the third round to move into the women's doubles quarter-finals.

The Chinese-Australian duo won the opening set after Stosur fired a forehand winner. The second set was even easier for the duo as they won the match in straight sets on the day, Zhang turned 29. The emphatic win came as a perfect birthday gift for the Chinese ace. Zhang and Stosur will have a face off against the top seeded Czech pair of Barbora Krejcijova and Katerina Siniakova.