Australian Open 2015 Day 4: Azarenka's back, Hewitt out

By Alexandra Willis

Wimbledon.com's highlights from the fourth day of play at the 2015 Australian Open at Melbourne...

Big win

Victoria Azarenka d. Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2

The most-talked about match of the day saw Azarenka not just beat Wozniacki, but beat her soundly, and announce her return to the tour. It was the two-time champion’s first top 10 scalp in over a year, while, conversely, it was Wozniacki’s worst Australian Open finish in eight appearances. Next up for Azarenka, currently ranked No.44 in the world, is world No.25 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, with Serena Williams potentially waiting in the quarters.

"It's really satisfying to be able to play again,” she said.

Serena Williams d. Vera Zvonareva 7-5, 6-0

Not because of the scoreline, or the round, but more the fact that Serena had to pick herself out of trouble against an old foe. She saved two set points at 4-5 in the first set, before kick-starting herself to win 10 games in a row. The heat? Concentration lapse? Who knows.

The upsets

Benjamin Becker d. Lleyton Hewitt 2-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

The Becker not-named Boris has the curious distinction of having ended Andre Agassi’s career, being the last man to play him, and beat him, before the great American retired. Has he done the same for Lleyton Hewitt? It was all looking very good for Australia’s most successful male player of recent times when he stormed to a two sets to love lead. But Becker came battling back, and Hewitt had nothing left to give.

Madison Keys d. Casey Dellacqua (29) 2-6, 6-1, 6-1

It’s easy to forget that it was here that Madison Keys first announced herself, coming through qualifying, and then reach the third round in 2013. 2014 was a year of adjustment, but, calm and confident once again, and with Lindsay Davenport in her corner, Keys is expected to do big things. In beating local Dellacqua, she has equalled her Grand Slam-best third round, and will fancy she could go one further. Even against Petra Kvitova.

Jerzy Janowicz d. Gael Monfils (17) 6-4, 1-6, 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3

The former Wimbledon semi-finalist alluded to personal problems at home as he spoke in an almost teary fashion after knocking out Gael Monfils, the 17^th seed. Janowicz had started the stronger, only for Monfils to reel him back in with his trademark athletic defence. But the Pole changed up his game plan, and, 70 winners later, had the win. Feliciano Lopez is next.

Coco Vandeweghe d. Sam Stosur (20) 6-4, 6-4

A first-round qualifying loser at Australian Open 2014, 23-year-old Vandeweghe has made a meteoric rise up the rankings, and after this win, is into the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. Possessing a serve akin to Serena’s, and plenty of pace off both wings, she didn’t give Stosur, who didn’t play badly, any room for manoeuvre. Next up is fellow American Madison Brengle.

One to praise

Venus Williams, who, at the age of 34, is two wins from returning to the top 10.

Stat of the day

The number of Grand Slam fifth sets Lleyton Hewitt has played, and Open Era record.

Cruising through

The following all won in straight sets…

Venus Williams (d. Lauren Davis), Guillermo Garcia Lopez (d. Alejandro Gonzalez), Steve Johnson (d. Santiago Giraldo), Victoria Azarenka (d. Caroline Wozniacki), Jarkko Nieminen (d. Matthias Bachinger), Serena Williams (d. Vera Zvonareva), Camila Giorgi (d. Tereza Smitkova), Stan Wawrinka (d. Marius Copil), Novak Djokovic (d. Andrey Kuznetsov), Varvara Lepchenko (d. Ajla Tomljanovic), Dominika Cibulkova (d. Tsvetana Pironkova), Elina Svitolina (d. Nicole Gibbs), Gilles Simon (d. Marcel Granollers), Petra Kvitova (d. Mona Barthel), Madison Brengle (d. Irina Falconi), Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (d. Kai-Chen Chang), Fernando Verdasco (d. Go Soeda), Milos Raonic (d. Donald Young).

Marathon match

Vasek Pospisil d. Paolo Lorenzi, 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4. 3 hrs 35mins.

It may only have been four sets, but Canada’s Grand Slam champion (in doubles)

Shortest match

Agnieszka Radwanska d. Johanna Larsson, 6-0, 6-1, 44 mins

Country watch

Most players remaining – 10: USA

Most wins – 24: USA

Most losses – 14: France, Germany, USA

Ace watch

1T. John Isner 59

1T. Ivo Karlovic 59

3. Gilles Muller 56

Quote of the day

“Ask Caroline tonight when she comes in here. She's asking me, How are the court? I don't know. How are the balls? I don't know. She has to ask Aggie. She's like, I can't ask you. I grew up in Compton. This is amazing situations for me. The ball is great, you know. Wow. We used to hit with dead balls. What am I going to complain about?”

Serena Williams. Still thankful.

Happy Birthday…

To Alize Cornet, who was treated to a cake, candles and singing from the French Press to mark her 25th birthday.

Sight of the day

Roger Federer’s twin girls, and many other tennis children, enthralled by visitors from the Melbourne Zoo. Even the alligator.

Coming up on Friday

Rod Laver Arena

Lucie Hradecka v Julia Goerges

Eugenie Bouchard (7) v Caroline Garcia

Andreas Seppi v Roger Federer (2)

Zarina Diyas (31) v Maria Sharapova (20

Dudi Sela v Rafael Nadal (2)