Serena outslugs top seed Halep as Djokovic battles

A fired-up Serena Williams slugged past world number one Simona Halep Monday as she inches ever closer to a 24th Grand Slam title, while Novak Djokovic survived a battle to stay on course for a record seventh Australian Open crown.

In a towering performance, the American great scored her biggest win since having a baby to grind down the Romanian top seed 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 and move into a quarter-final against seventh seed Karolina Pliskova.

Czech Pliskova is another form player, winning the warm-up Brisbane International and easing past two-time Grand Slam winner Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-1 to set up the Williams clash.

"I'm such a fighter, I never give up," declared Williams after the epic encounter. "It was an intense match and there were some incredible points but I love playing tennis and being out here and I love this court, it's really cool to be back."
"It was definitely a physical battle. It was difficult to get through him," the Serbian world number one said. "In these kinds of matches you just have to hang in there." -
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