Australian Open: Kostyuk makes first Grand Slam quarter-final after halting Timofeeva

Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk defeated Russian Maria Timofeeva 6-2, 6-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Australian Open to book her spot in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.

Timofeeva, ranked No 170 in the world, had come through qualifying and gone on a hot streak, defeating Alize Cornet, Caroline Wozniacki and Beatriz Haddad Maia en route to the fourth round. However, the strike power of Kostyuk, who blasted 19 winners to 14 errors, was too much for the Ukrainian on Sunday.

Next up, Kostyuk, who is ranked just outside the world’s top 30 and has already sent a seed home this tournament (Elise Mertens, No 25 seed), will face her toughest challenge of the Australian Open. She faces world No 4 Coco Gauff, who is yet to drop a set across the first four rounds.

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