The Latest: Sharapova reaches quarterfinals in Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) The latest from the Australian Open on Sunday (all times local):
1:20 p.m.
Maria Sharapova is through to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open after a 7-5, 7-5 win over Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.
The fifth-seeded Sharapova needed 2 hours, 5 minutes to beat Bencic, breaking the Swiss players serve for the fourth time in the last game - sealing it when she successfully challenged a call on the baseline on the opposite end of the court.
Sharapova, the 2008 champion and a three-time runner-up, needed four set points to clinch the opening set, including two in the 10th game.
Bencic again found herself on the wrong end of an opponent's aces count. Sharapova had 21, including four on her second serve. Last year, Bencic was on the receiving end of a WTA-record 27 aces from Sabine Lisicki.
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11:15 a.m.
Light rain is delaying the start of play on outdoor courts at Melbourne Park on Sunday, although matches on three covered stadiums have begun as scheduled.
First up on Rod Laver Arena is Maria Sharapova's fourth-round match against Belinda Bencic. That will be followed by defending champion Serena Williams' match against Russian Margarita Gasparyan.
Defending men's champion Novak Djokovic closes the afternoon program on the main court when he plays Gilles Simon. Roger Federer plays a night match on Rod Laver against David Goffin.
