Serena Williams battles past Sabalenka to enter last eight

The 10th seed Serena Williams is through to her 13th Australian Open quarter-final, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes.

Serena will compete in Melbourne's last eight two decades after achieving that for the first time, firing 30 winners and 26 unforced errors to overpower the Belarusian, one of Melbourne's dark horses this year. Both played scored four breaks from 20 break chances in total, staying neck and neck and winning 94 points each! Starting all over in the decider, Serena prevailed with a double break to seal the deal and remain on the title course.

The more experienced player fended off two break chances at 3-3 in the first set with some brave hitting and closed the game with a backhand winner to remain on the positive side. Serena closed the ninth game with a service winner and seized the second set point in the next one after forcing Sabalenka's error for 6-4 in 43 minutes. Finding her return at the beginning of the second set, Aryna grabbed three straight breaks to open a 5-1 lead and closed the set soon after that. Williams pulled one break back in game four before suffering another a few minutes later when her backhand landed long.

Sabalenka closed the set in game eight when Williams sprayed a forehand mistake, gathering a boost ahead of the decider and looking good to beat the 23-time Major winner. Fighting back, Serena earned a break in game four when her rival netted a forehand and repelled two break chances in the next one to open a 4-1 advantage. Aryna pulled the break back in game seven for more drama before Williams seized a break at 15 in game ten to move over the top and advance into the last eight.