Serena Sails Into YVC QFs, Will Face Collins; Kvitova Upset; Kenin-Muguruza Rematch Set

Serena Williams sailed into the Yarra Valley Classic quarters Wednesday night with a strong win over Tsvetana Pironkova 6-1, 6-4.

“It’s definitely nice to get another win,” Williams said. “She’s clearly a great player, so it wasn’t easy, but it was good to come through.

“Last time it was an incredible three set match,” Williams said of her last meeting against the Bulgarian star. “So today I was like, all right, let’s really try and focus and learn to do better than last time.”

The 39-year-old Serena hasn’t dropped a set in two matches thus far. She’ll now face American Danielle Collins who upset Karolina Pliskova 7-6, 7-6.

Top ranked Ash Barty kept pace to also reach the quarterfinals besting Czech Marie Bouzkova in three sets 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.

“It was a really solid match,” Barty told the crowd. “I felt like in the middle of the match I just pressed a little bit, and lost my execution, but glad to find it in the end, and get another opportunity to play tomorrow.”

Petra Kvitova added to the Czech woes on the day as she fell to French Open semifinal Nadia Podoroska 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(7).

Sofia Kenin and Garbine Muguruza also advanced. They’ll now meet in the quarterfinals in a rematch of Kenin’s stunning title last year in Melbourne.

When the quarters take place, Barty will take on Shelby Rogers, Serena collides with Collins and also Podoroska meets Marketa Vondrousova.

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