Elina Svitolina showed not an ounce of sentiment as she gave 15-year-old compatriot Marta Kostyuk a 59-minute lesson in grand slam tennis to reach the fourth round of the Australia Open for the first time on Friday.
Qualifier Kostyuk became the youngest player to reach the third round of a grand slam in over 20 years on Wednesday but her dream run was brought to a shuddering halt in a 6-2 6-2 loss to her fellow Ukrainian on Rod Laver Arena.
The teenager made an excellent start by breaking Svitolina in the first game of the match but from then on it was pretty much all one-way traffic as the in-form fourth seed set up a meeting with Czech qualifier Denisa Allertova.
Svitolina, showing no desire to spend a minute longer in the heat than necessary and no sign of the injury issues she reported after her second round match, went through when Kostyuk served up her ninth double fault of the contest.
“It's very special to me, I always love coming to Australia but I never got beyond the third round,” Svitolina said on court.
“It was sad that I was playing a Ukrainian girl, it's always difficult playing someone from your own country, but I'm happy that I'm still alive in this tournament.”
Svitolina was one of the pre-tournament favourites after winning five tour titles last year and the Brisbane International warm-up to start this campaign.
One of five players who have a chance to finish the Australian Open as world number, she is now the only seed left in her section of the draw.
“It's tough to be seeded because everyone plays pretty freely against you and you have to be ready for tough matches from the start of the tournament,” she said.
“It's tough but I always try and stay positive and take each match as it comes.”
Svitolina made a slow start in the searing heat but her serve was rock solid after the first game reverse and she broke three times to clinch the set when Kostyuk, on one knee, flopped a forehand into the net.
Kostyuk left the court for a change of clothes before the second set but it made no difference and Svitolina ruthlessly pounced on anything loose from the teenager, particularly from her second serve, to break another two times.
Svitolina afterwards paid tribute to the fighting spirit of her compatriot, who on Monday became the youngest player to win a match at the Australian Open since Martina Hingis's quarter-final run in 1996.
“She's a great fighter, she fought right until the end, and she has a great future and we're gonna hear a lot more about her,” said Svitolina.
Qualifier Allertova first into last 16
Qualifier Denisa Allertova became the first player into the last 16 at the Australian Open after romping through against Magda Linette 6-1, 6-4 on Thursday.
The unheralded Czech took just one hour and 11 minutes to cruise past her Polish opponent to get to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.
But the big-serving world 130 admitted she found it tough as temperatures soared towards a forecast 42 Celsius (107 Farenheit) on Margaret Court Arena.
Allertova ripped through the first set in just 21 minutes against the world number 74 but said she became disoriented as the extreme heat got to her for a few minutes at the start of the second set.
“I felt terrible. I didn't know what was happening at the start of the second set,” she said after going 3-0 down before regathering herself to win the match.
“It was tough with the weather. I'm glad I came back. I don't know how to say how I am feeling.”
Allertova's reward will be a match against either fourth seed Elina Svitolina or 15-year-old sensation Marta Kostyuk who clash later Thursday.
Birthday girl Martic reaches last 16 at Open
Petra Martic celebrated her 27th birthday by holding off a gritty challenge from Thai qualifier Luksika Kumkhum to reach the last 16 of the Australian Open for the first time.
Martic battled fierce heat and a succession of powerful winners from her opponent to prevail 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 after two hours and 10 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
World number 81 Martic has reached three other Grand Slam fourth rounds but was made to battle all the way to get to her first in Australia.
The 124th-ranked Kumkhum went for broke throughout a ding-dong battle, powering a remarkable 44 winners past the Croatian, who had just 18 of her own.
“She raised her game and whenever you give her pace on the ball she hits winners all over the place,” said Martic.
“Two days ago I was already struggling so it was really tough today,” added Martic who was clearly suffering after a succession of long rallies towards the end of the third set as the mercury rose towards a forecast 42 Celsius (107 Farenheit).
She will face Belgium's Elise Mertens or Alize Cornet of France for a place in the quarterfinals.
