MINSK, 18 January (BelTA) – Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka and Belgium's Elise Mertens have advanced to the round of Last 16 of the Australian Open women's doubles event, BelTA has learned.
On 18 January they defeated the U.S.-Russian duet of Sabrina Santamaria and Veronika Kudermetova 7-6 (7-3), 6-2. The Belarusian-Belgian duo will next play the Czech pair of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.
In the round of Last 32 the Belarusian-U.S. tandem of Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Taylor Townsend will take on the Polish-Japanese duet of Alicja Rosolska and Eri Hozumi. Victoria Azarenka and Australia's Ashleigh Barty will face Jennifer Brady and Alison Riske of the United States.
Belarus' Lidziya Marozava and Japan's Shuko Aoyama failed to reach the round of Last 16 losing 5-7, 5-7 to the U.S. duet of Kaitlyn Christian and Asia Muhammad.
In the round of Last 32 of the women's singles reigning Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark lost to former world number one Maria Sharapova of Russia 4-6, 6-4, 3-6.
