MELBOURNE (AP) ― Maria Sharapova beat Kirsten Flipkens 6-1, 6-0 on Sunday to continue a dominant and unparalleled run to the Australian Open quarterfinals.
The No. 2-ranked Sharapova conceded only five games en route to the quarterfinals, a record at the season’s first major.
Steffi Graf conceded only eight games in her opening four matches in 1989, when she won the second of her three straight titles in Melbourne. Monica Seles matched that number twice.
Sharapova had a pair of 6-0, 6-0 wins in her first two rounds ― the first time that has happened at a major since 1985.