Australian Open 2024: Iga Swiatek stunned by Linda Noskova in third round

Earlier, China’s Zheng Qinwen, the 12th seed, edged out compatriot Wang Yafan in a third-set tie-break to win 6-4 2-6 7-6 (10-8).

Zheng’s win comes 10 years after Li Na became the first Chinese winner of the women’s singles title in Melbourne.

“That final I have watched more than 10 times,” said Zheng, who was 11 when Li won and met her in person for the first time after the win over Wang. “I have a lot of memories.

“I was sitting there in front of TV. I watched from beginning to the end.

Li, who became Asian’s first Grand Slam singles champion by winning the French Open in 2011, beat Dominika Cibulkova on Rod Laver Arena in 2014 to win her second Grand Slam title but retired later that year because of injury.

Zheng will play French world number 95 Oceane Dodin in the fourth round after she beat compatriot Clara Burel 6-2 6-4.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka progressed with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Latvia’s 11th seed Jelena Ostapenko.

The Belarusian 18th seed trailed 5-2 in the second set and had to save four break points as she served for the match.

Russian Anna Kalinskaya beat American Sloane Stephens 6-7 (8-10) 6-1 6-4 and with Italian Jasmine Paolini awaiting for Kalinskaya in the next round, there is guaranteed to be a first-time major semi-finalist in Zheng’s section of the draw.

Paolini reached her first Grand Slam fourth round by beating Anna Blinkova, who stunned Elena Rybakina on Thursday, 7-6 (7-1) 6-4.

She will face Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska, who defeated American 27th seed Emma Navarro 6-2 2-6 6-1.