Top-ranked Ash Barty has beaten former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka in a see-sawing clash to move through to the quarter-finals of the Miami Open.
Barty’s first serve was strong, delivering six aces, and she controlled the first set.
But Azaranka, who is a three-time Miami Open winner, hit back and won five straight games to take the second set.
Barty, the reigning Miami Open champion, then settled in the third to win 6-1 1-6 6-2 at the WTA 100 event on Monday.
The Australian world No.1 will next face the winner of Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova in the quarter-finals.
Barty, who is playing her first tournament outside of Australia since February 2020, recently revealed she may not return home until the end of the season because of quarantine challenges.
Meanwhile, world No.5 Elina Svitolina fought back from a set down to overcome Petra Kvitova 2-6 7-5 7-5.