Victoria Azarenka’s sweep of Caroline Wozniacki highlights Day 4 of the 2015 Australian Open

Here are some interesting story lines from Day 4 of the Australian Open.

by Bill Connelly

Result: Victoria Azarenka def. Caroline Wozniacki [8], 6-3, 6-2

Victoria Azarenka had won just two of her last five WTA matches heading into the Australian Open. She needed three sets to take down qualifier Aleksandra Krunic in the U.S. Open in September, and she needed three more to beat 44-year old Kimiko Date-Krumm in Tokyo a couple of weeks later. She was swept from the U.S. Open by Ekaterina Makarova, lost in straight sets to Ana Ivanovic in Tokyo, took a few months off to get healthy and find her form, and started 2015 with a first-round loss to Karolina Pliskova in Brisbane.

And then she went to Melbourne, smoked Sloane Stephens in the first round (6-3, 6-2), then trounced No. 8 seed (and U.S. Open finalist) Caroline Wozniacki in the second (6-3, 6-2). The two-time Aussie Open champion and former world No. 1 had a terribly forgettable 2014; she reached no slam semifinals after making it to seven of the previous 10 in 2011-13. She failed to defend her Aussie Open title last January, and for the first time in three years, she also failed to reach the U.S. Open final. She dealt with injuries and general confidence issues. But she has looked spectacular this week. (Her play has, anyway. Her dancing might be another story.)

Granted, Stephens didn’t require much of her in the opening round, with 29 unforced errors in 106 points. But in the second round against a confident Wozniacki, Azarenka played a lot like her 2012-13 self. She dictated play with 31 winners and punished Wozniacki’s second serve. She created 13 break points to Wozniacki’s four, and she won more than 50 percent of Wozniacki’s service points. This version of Azarenka could give Serena Williams some serious trouble in the quarterfinals. But she will still have to maintain this form against No. 25 seed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the third round, then either No. 11 Dominika Cibulkova or No. 19 Alize Cornet in the fourth. She is in a murderous portion of the draw, but she has looked as good as anybody in the tournament.

She’s also had some fun in press conferences. Just ask former SBN’er Ben Rothenberg.

by Griffin Kurzius

Result: Benjamin Becker def. Lleyton Hewitt, 2-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

Lleyton Hewitt has been the face of Australian tennis for the better part of 15 years. And for the first two sets Wednesday night, the world’s 87th-ranked player looked like the sprite former world No. 1.

But as it often does for stars in their twilight years, the 33-year-old came crashing down.

In front of a rowdy Rod Laver Arena, veteran Benjamin Becker -- who handed Andre Agassi his last U.S. Open loss in 2006 -- outlasted Hewitt in five sets. After dictating ground stroke play and moving Becker side to side, Hewitt lost confidence in his serve. The German responded with aggressive forehands and an overpowering serve.

This loss has raised speculation of whether Hewitt has played his final match at his home Grand Slam. In the post-match press conference, he gave no indication about his future plans. But with the way he ambled off the court, slow and joyless, his stardom looked finished.

by Griffin Kurzius

Result: Jerzy Janowicz def. Gael Monfils [17], 6-4, 1-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3

With a matchup of Jerzy Janowicz and Gael Monfils, fans could expect one thing: the unexpected. Two of the ATP’s most mercurial players and personalities did not disappoint on Day 4.

Ultimately, Janowicz prevailed in five sets. The 6’8 Pole launched 70 winners and 14 aces in the victory. Against Monfils, who prefers to play behind the baseline, Janowicz took the ball early and controlled the net, with 74 net approaches.

Meanwhile, fatigue became a factor for Monfils in the final sets. The Frenchman won a five-setter against Lucas Pouille after trailing by two sets just two days prior.

The 24-year-old Janowicz will square off against the No. 12 seed Feliciano Lopez in the third round.

by Griffin Kurzius

Result: Madison Keys def. Casey Dellacqua [29], 2-6, 6-1, 6-1

Madison Keys showed resilience and maturity in the second round, dispatching No. 29 seed Casey Dellacqua in three sets.

Under the tutelage of former Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport, the 19-year-old has combined her raw power with sound strategy. She is coming to net more and using more angles to move her opponent off the court. In victory, the American hit 35 winners compared to just 12 for Dellacqua. Overall, Keys won 88 points to Dellacqua’s 67.

While Keys has shown tremendous promise, she will have an uphill battle in the third round against No. 4 seed Petra Kvitova.

by Bill Connelly

Upcoming matches: Roger Federer [2] vs. Andreas Seppi, Maria Sharapova [2] vs. Zarina Diyas [31], Rafael Nadal [3] vs. Dudi Sela

Day 3 at Rod Laver Arena saw three former champions threatened: Roger Federer dropped the first set against Simone Bolelli before cruising, Maria Sharapova had to save two match points to get past Alexandra Panova, and Rafael Nadal fought both Tim Smyczek and his own body to come back from two sets to one down and win in five.

Now we get to find out which of the three, if any, are feeling the effects. All three return to Rod Laver for third-round matches on Friday. In the day session (or, in the states, the night session), Federer takes on Andreas Seppi. Then in the evening session (late-night in the states), Sharapova faces a seeded Zarina Diyas and Nadal finishes off the proceedings against Dudi Sela. Federer has won 21 of 22 career sets against Seppi, and it’s the first meeting for both Sharapova-Diyas and Nadal-Sela.

Nadal had the longest Wednesday match of the three, and he’s been searching for his form after coming back from his latest injury issues. If one of the three is likely to see a carryover regarding fatigue or form, he is the most likely bet. But we’ll see if Sela is capable of taking advantage.