A day after top-seeded Serena Williams was knocked out of the 2014 Australian Open, No. 3 Maria Sharapova followed suit, losing 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 to No. 20 Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round.
2014 Australian Open results and bracket: Maria Sharapova falls to Dominika Cibulkova
In the land down under, the upsets have been flowing freely and did so once again on Day 8.
Scott Barbour
Sharapova battled a hip strain throughout the match. The 2008 Aussie Open champ had struggled a bit in her first three matches of the tournament, and her mistakes finally caught up to her against Cibulkova. The Slovakian will face No. 11 Simona Halep in the quarterfinals.
Second-seeded Victoria Azarenka was victorious on Day 8, defeating the last remaining American woman, No. 13 Sloane Stephens, in two sets. Azarenka won in convincing fashion, 6-3, 6-2, and she will face Agnieszka Radwanska who defeated Garbine Muguruza Blanco in three sets, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
On the men’s side of the draw, Roger Federer was impressive in his 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Federer was in control the entire time, hitting 43 winners.
Rafael Nadal also took care of business in straight sets, topping Kei NIshikori 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-6 (3) to move into the quarterfinals.
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