Azarenka breezes into quarters

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus plays a backhand in her fourth round match against Elena Vesnina of Russia during day eight of the 2013 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus plays a backhand in her fourth round match against Elena Vesnina of Russia during day eight of the 2013 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 21, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Published Jan 21, 2013

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Melbourne – Victoria Azarenka was back to her ruthless best as the defending champion advanced to the Australian Open quarter-finals with a 6-1 6-1 demolition of Russia's Elena Vesnina in less than an hour on Monday.

The world No 1 had become the first of the top four seeds to drop a set at Melbourne Park this year in the third round against an injury-hampered Jamie Hampton and said she needed to improve “everything” against Vesnina.

The Russian doubles specialist, who won her first WTA Tour title in Hobart before the tournament began, however, offered little against the tall right-hander and was simply ground down by the more powerful Belarusian.

Azarenka will meet Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarter-finals after the Russian two-time grand slam champion had earlier overcome 10th-seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 2-6 7-5 in the first game on Rod Laver Arena. – Reuters

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