No. 1 Sabalenka cruises into Australian Open quarters

MELBOURNE, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- World number one Aryna Sabalenka made a statement on Sunday after powering into the Australian Open quarterfinals with a straight-sets win over 17th seed Victoria Mboko.

The four-time Grand Slam champion hit 31 winners in her comfortable 6-1, 7-6 (1) victory in one hour and 26 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.

"She pushed me so much, but was super happy to get through," Sabalenka said.

Fourth round action started on day eight in cooler conditions than the oppressive weather the day before.

Touted as a future superstar, the 19-year-old Mboko had lived up to the billing by reaching the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time.

But the Canadian was totally overwhelmed by the power of Sabalenka, whose bid for a third title in Melbourne gained steam.

Sabalenka was storming to a comfortable victory before she unexpectedly could not close it out in the 10th game of the second set.

But the 27-year-old was not to be denied and clinched victory on a tiebreak.

Sabalenka will next play 29th seed Iva Jovic of the United States in the last eight. ■