Azarenka chomps down Meusburger to reach fourth round

Victoria Azarenka remained on course for a third straight Australian Open title with a thumping 6-1, 6-0 victory over Yvonne Meusburger in exactly an hour on Saturday.

- American Stephens holds no grudge against Azarenka

The second seed reached the fourth round when she broke the Austrian world number 49 for the seventh time with a thundering smash at the net to bring an end to a thoroughly one-sided contest on Rod Laver Arena.

Azarenka has not lost a set in her three matches this week and extended her winning streak at MelbournePark to 17 matches.

The Belarussian will next meet American Sloane Stephens, who she beat in controversial circumstances in the semi-finals last year on her way to her second successive Australian Open title. 

Image: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus plays a backhand in her third round match against Yvonne Meusburger of Austria at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Saturday

Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images