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Williams, Sharapova to meet in quarterfinals

Davis Van OpdorpJanuary 24, 2016

Maria Sharapova will have another opportunity to take down Serena Williams when they face off in the Australian Open quarterfinals. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer advance to the quarterfinals on the men's side.

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Australien Tennis Australian Open 2016 in Melbourne Serena Williams
Image: Getty Images/Q. Rooney

After dispatching their fourth round opponents in straight set, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will face off in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

The match will be the 21st time these two tennis superstars have met in singles competition. Sharapova has only beaten Williams twice, the last victory coming in the Tour Championships in 2004.

Williams defeated Margarita Gasparyan 6-2, 6-1 to advance to her ninth quarterfinal at the Australian Open. Maria Sharapova also eliminated her opponent in straight sets, defeating Belinda Bencic 7-5, 7-5.

Agnieszka Radwanska advanced to the second quarterfinal in the women's bracket after defeating Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-7(6), 6-1, 7-5. She will take on Carla Suárez Navarro, who recovered from a rough first set to defeat Daria Gavrilova 0-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Djokovic, Federer advance to the quarterfinals

Novak Djokovic is well on course to retain his Australian Open title. The defending champion labored to a five-set victory over Gilles Simon of France, ultimately defeating the Frenchman 6-3, 6-7(1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Djokovic has now advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the ninth consecutive year.

Roger Federer's victory against David Goffin came a little easier. Federer defeated Goffin in 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, the third time the Swiss star has defeated an opponent in straights sets during this Australian Open.

Djokovic and Federer, who have split their 44 appearances against each other 22-and-22, could potentially face off in the semifinals. Djokovic will first have to eliminate Kei Nishikori, while Federer will have to eliminate Tomas Berdych. Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka will try to join their comrades in the quarterfinals tomorrow, Murray facing Bernard Tomic and Wawrinka facing Milos Raonic.