The first match on RLA on the middle Saturday at night featured the only 2 ladies to have won the singles title here before, and both dangerous here.
Angie Kerber (21) has been unquestionably the form player on tour, undefeated through the Hopman Cup and winner of the Sydney International.
Maria Sharapova has been impressive in the two rounds of the Aus Open, defeating Tatjana Maria and Anastasija Sevastova (14) without dropping a set.
The match began with Sharapova losing serve in her first effort to trail 1-0
Kerber forced four errors, three on the Russian forehand.
The German swiftly made it 2-0 before Sharapova held serve and trailed 1-2. It wasn’t easy, going to deuce three times and saving a break point.
That was all the joy Sharapova could glean from set one.
Kerber won the next game, losing only one point due to a double fault and led 3-1.
Attacking the Russian backhand, the 21st seed broke again and it was 4-1.
Backhand and forehand winners from Kerber took her to within a game of the set, and a third break, this time to love sealed the deal 6-1 in half an hour.
Kerber broke Sharapova in game two of set two, but was broken back the next game.
A love game from Sharapova levelled things at 3-3 and it appeared that a contest may be happening.
No such luck - Kerber saved a break point en route to 4-3, then broke Maria’s serve, and held again to win the set 6-3.
The match was done and dusted 6-1 6-3 and Kerber marched into the round of sixteen.
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