Serena grinds down dogged Strycova to reach Australian Open quarter-finals

Reuters: Serena Williams battled a misbehaving serve and scorching heat but stayed cool under pressure in a 7-5 6-4 win over Czech Barbora Strycova to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday.

Second seed Williams was broken three times in the opening set at Rod Laver Arena and again when coasting to the finish line in the second but shifted up a gear when it counted to close out the match in one hour and 46 minutes.

 “It’s always good I have something I can improve on and I know I can do better on my serve.”

Williams, bidding to win a record 23rd grand slam title in the professional era, has now notched 10 consecutive quarter-final appearances at the majors, dating back to the 2014 US Open.

The 35-year-old great next faces the winner of the match between Russian Ekaterina Makarova and British ninth seed Johanna Konta. Williams came into the tournament with doubts about her fitness after she had only two tour matches of preparation since the US Open, but she is yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park.

She was left the highest ranked player in the draw after Angelique Kerber’s shock elimination on Sunday.