Aryna Sabalenka defeated Yulia Putintseva in straight sets on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the Brisbane International. (More Tennis News)
The number one seed, who finished runner-up here last♎ year, found life tough in the opening set but ultimately prevailed 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.
Putintseva earned the first break of serve in the seventh game 𝓡of the first set, only for Sabalenka to hit 😼back with a break of her own in the 10th.
World number 29 Putintseva squandered a set point in the 12th game as the📖 opener went to a t♒ie-break, which Sabalenka took 7-2.
Having been two points from losing the opener of four occasions, the Belarusian found the second set a lot m🍬ore straightforward.
A break of serve in the first game paved the way for Sabalenka to hold and see out the win in a time of 🌼one hour and 49 minutes.
Marie Bouzkova awaits Sabalenka in the last eight after upsetting Victoria Azarenka earlier on Thursda🔜y.
Data Debrief: Sabalenka improves after lukewarm start
Sabalenk🐽a struggled to find her full flow in the opening set, in which she recorded a first serve points won percentage of 69%, compared to 69.4% for her opponent.
However, the quality told in the second as Sabalenka in🐭creased that figur💯e to 85% in what proved to be a deserved last-16 victory in Australia.
