Kvitova continues chase of third slam after win over Sakkari

Two-times Grand Slam winner Petra Kvitova on Sunday overcame rising star Maria Sakkari 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2 to make it to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for a second consecutive time.

 The 2019 Melbourne runner-up came back from one set down to clip the wings of the 24-year-old Greek - in her fist round-of-16 appearance at a slam - who was supported by raucous fans throughout the contest at Rod Laver Arena, Deutsche press agency (dpa) reported.

 Both players had their chances to take opener - which was played as an aerobatic team conducted an aerial display overhead in support of Australia Day celebrations - with two breaks of serve a piece in the first set.

 The second set also saw six breaks of serve, with Kvitova taking four to force a decider.

 In the end, Kvitova's power and experience got the edge over the young Greek, who dropped her serve in the first game of the third and never recovered.

 Two-times Wimbledon champion Kvitova, seeded seventh, last year reached the Melbourne final in her best result since returning in mid-2017 from a career-threatening hand injury.

 Sakkari made it to the round of 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career thanks to a 6-4, 6-4 rout of 10th-seeded Madison Keys on Friday.