Melbourne, Australia: Victoria Azarenka remained on track for a third consecutive Australian Open title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over American Sloane Stephens in a fourth-round match Monday.
Azarenka, who has seen two major contenders for her title -- Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova -- lose in the past 24 hours, broke Stephens' serve to open the second set and then in the seventh to lead 5-2 before closing out the match.
The match was a replay of the pair's acrimonious semifinal last year when Azarenka took a medical timeout just when it appeared Stephens was getting momentum.
Stephens hit Azarenka in the hip area with a shot at the net in the first set on Monday, and Azarenka sent a forehand whizzing past Stephens a few games later.
