Azarenka knocked out of Australian Open

Belarus' number one Victoria Azarenka failed to progress to the Australian Open last eight.

The Belarusian, world number 44, lost 2-6, 6-3, 3-6 to World No.10 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia in the round of last 16. In a tight fight that lasted for two hours and 20 minutes both the players showed a great tennis.

Last year the Slovak reached the Australian Open final to lose to China's Na Li.

As for Victoria Azarenka, despite the defeat she deserved respect from specialists and fans and showed her readiness to complete at the highest level following her injury-blighted season. Three victories at the current Australian Open testify to the fact. The Belarusian beat American Sloane Stephens (32) – 6-3, 6-2, Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki (7) 6-4, 6-2, and Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (23) in 6-4, 6-4.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka made her 10th appearance in the tournament.

Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Spain's Feliciano Lopez advanced into the quarterfinal doubles to face Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Marcelo Melo of Brazil. On their way to the quarterfinal the Belarusian-Spanish duo defeated the Australian tandem of Luke Saville and James Duckworth 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, saw off India's Rohan Bopanna and Daniel Nestor of Canada 7-5, 6-3 and Jonathan Erlich of Israel and Treat Huey of the Philippines 7-5, 6-3.

In the mixed doubles opener Max Mirnyi and Australia's Arina Rodionova lost to American Abigail Spears and Mexico's Santiago Gonzalez 3-6, 5-7.

Max Mirnyi is making his 19th appearance in Melbourne. His best achievement so far has been the 2007 final in duet will Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden, where the two lost to world number one Bob and Mike Bryan.

The 2015 Australian Open will be over on 1 February.