MELBOURNE, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka made it through to the Australian Open quarterfinals with comfortable wins, while home hope Alex de Minaur made a statement win on Sunday.
Alcaraz headlined the men's draw and his bid for an elusive Australian Open title took another step after comfortably beating 19th seed Tommy Paul 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-5 in two hours and 44 minutes.
"Overall it has been a really high level of tennis from both sides, really happy I got it in straight sets," said Alcaraz, who has not dropped a set in the tournament.
The six-time grand slam champion is moving closer to capturing a career slate of major titles, having never tasted success at the season-opening grand slam.
Alcaraz will play a blockbuster quarterfinal against sixth-seeded De Minaur, who produced a flawless straight-sets victory over 10th seed Alexander Bublik.
The Australian will be desperate to end his country's 50-year men's singles drought on home soil, but has never advanced beyond the last eight in a major.
Third seed Alexander Zverev rounded into irresistible form after blasting past 18th seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 romp in two hours and 12 minutes.
It was a notable improvement for Zverev, last year's runner-up, who had been pushed to four sets in each of his opening three matches.
The German next plays American 25th seed Learner Tien, who thrashed former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev.
In the women's singles, Sabalenka made a statement with a 6-1, 7-6 (1) win over 17th seed Victoria Mboko in one hour and 26 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.
"I'm super happy with the win, once again in straight sets," said four-time Grand Slam champion. "She played incredible tennis. She pushed me so much. Happy to be through."
Sabalenka next faces American 29th seed Iva Jovic, who lost just one game against Yulia Putintseva to reach the last eight of a grand slam for the first time in her career.
"Obviously the scoreline is favorable, but it doesn't matter how you get it done," said Jovic, 18.
"I just wanted to get it done, and I felt like if I let her come back a little bit, it would become a dogfight."
No.3 Coco Gauff saw off 19th seed Karolina Muchova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in just under two hours.
It was a relief for Gauff, who is aiming to win a third grand slam title, but she has yet to put it together in Melbourne.
Gauff will next play 12th seed Elina Svitolina ahead of what might be a blockbuster semifinal with rival Sabalenka.
In the second round of the women's doubles, China's Zhang Shuai and Belgium's Elise Mertens, the fourth seeds, beat Mboko and Jovic on a thrilling tiebreak.
Fourth round action continues on Sunday with China's Wang Xinyu facing fourth seed Amanda Anisimova, while second seeds Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek will also step up their campaigns. ■
