Australian Open: Halep, Kontaveit and Muguruza successful
Wimbledon winner Simona Halep remains at the Australian Open without losing a set - she is now in the quarterfinals. Anett Kontaveit and Garbine Muguruza followed.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 27, 2020, 11:12 am
Simona Halep remains one of the hot candidates for a tournament win at the Australian Open 2020. The finalist from 2018 beat Belgian Elise Mertens 6: 4 and 6: 4 in the round of 16. Halep hasn't played a set in the entire tournament so far and only had to play a tie-break in her first round match against Jennifer Brady, which she won - after defending three set balls.
After the match, Halep was chatting. When asked about her fundraiser - Halep plans to donate $ 200 to Bushfire victims if she annoys their caregivers - Halep said Coach Darren Cahill would tell her the total at the end of the tournament. "For the first time I can do whatever I want," joked Halep, "for the first time I feel happy on the court."
Halep is famous for her negative body language on the court; Coach Cahill once ended the collaboration at short notice because Halep lacked her fighting spirit.
Halep now meets Estonian Anett Kontaveit, who is in the round of eight for the first time in a Grand Slam tournament. Kontaveit, currently world ranking 31st, won in a competitive match against the young Polish Iga Swiatek 6: 7 (4), 7: 5, 7: 5.
Muguruza back in shape
The two-time major winner Garbine Muguruza also made it into the quarterfinals. After her weak year 2019 at the Australian Open, the Spaniard is showing a significant improvement. Muguruza, briefly world number one in 2017 and currently only ranked 32nd, won 6-3 and 6-3 against Dutchman Kiki Bertens. She had previously eliminated Elina Svitolina.
Muguruza is now waiting for the winner of the game between Angelique Kerber and Anasasia Pavlyuchenkova (here in the live ticker).
Ashleigh Barty , Petra Kvitova, Sofia Kenin and Ons Jabeur had already reached the round of eight in Melbourne on Sunday .
Here is the women's single draw
laverarena