MELBOURNE, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- World number two Iga Swiatek barely broke a sweat on Monday in her straight-set romp over qualifier Maddison Inglis to easily reach the Australian Open quarterfinals.
The six-time grand slam champion's 6-0, 6-3 demolition underlined her favorite status much to the disappointment of the partisan crowd at Rod Laver Arena, who willed the Australian underdog on.
168th-ranked Inglis saw her surprising tournament run prolonged by a walkover in the third round after former Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka withdrew due to injury.
Inglis did her best to avoid a humiliating bagel in the first set, but it took until the second game of set two to finally get on the board, much to the delight of her compatriots in the bleachers.
Swiatek barely had to lift her game to ensure her place in the final eight, where she faces an intriguing quarterfinal clash with former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, who earlier thrashed 21st seed Elise Mertens. ■
