Cibulkova upsets Sharapova, Azarenka cruises

The pint-sized Dominika Cibulkova upset Maria Sharapova, while Victoria Azarenka also progressed into the Australian Open quarter-finals. Slovakian Cibulkova, the 20th seed, made the most of her relative freshness against the third-seeded Sharapova, chalking up a 3-6 6-4 6-1 victory in two hours and 12 minutes to earn a maiden quarter-final appearance in Melbourne. Joining her in the last eight were two-time defending champion Azarenka and 11th seed Simona Halep. Azarenka overcame American 13th seed Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-2 in a somewhat underwhelming re-match of last year's controversial semi-final at Melbourne Park. Ultimately, Stephens' unforced errors were her undoing - she hit 32 of them - while Azarenka stayed patient despite only converting three of 14 break-point opportunities. The result came after Cibulkova stunned 2008 champion Sharapova in the opener on Rod Laver Arena. Cibulkova reminds one of the Energizer Bunny, darting around left, right and centre – seemingly without getting tired. And Cibulkova had plenty of energy to burn, as she had spent just three hours and 33 minutes on court in her first three matches compared to Sharapova's six hours and 58 minutes. Perhaps the lack of competitive match practice was a negative for Cibulkova early, though, as the Russian and 2008 champion momentarily blew away her service woes to confidently take the first set. It was ironic that Sharapova took the set via a Cibulkova double fault, and that the third seed had ended a set without one, while hitting three aces among her 11 winners. Sharapova's first service percentage was above 80 late in the first set, before Cibulkova effected a break to love to move to 3-5 – only to cough up the next game to hand the four-time major winner the set in 39 minutes. However, the little devil appeared over Sharapova's right shoulder in the opening game of the second, as she produced her 30th double fault of the tournament to hand Cibulkova a break – and it proved to be the first of eight free points the Russian would concede across the final two sets. Cibulkova then bolted to a 5-0 lead, and the resurgence from the 24-year-old was unsurprising. While none of Cibulkova's first three matches at Melbourne Park this year had come close to resembling a contest, she looked hungry for one to sink her teeth into. Sharapova found her touch on serve again, as she not only avoided a bagel, but fought back to 4-5. Undeterred, Cibulkova steadied the ship at one-set all, and stormed to her seat with intent – only to be held up by an off-court medical time-out instigated by Sharapova. Two double faults in the first game of the third saw Sharapova capitulate and hand Cibulkova the advantage – one she would not rescind. Cibulkova will next face Romania's Halep, who has carried on her stellar 2013 form - she won six titles last season - into 2014, as she surged past Serbian eighth seed Jelena Jankovic 6-4 2-6 6-0 on Hisense Arena.