Serena Williams Advances to Quarterfinals

By ESPN

Over the years, Serena Williams has suffered her share of misfortune. But at this year's Australian Open, karma is an itch -- that Serena keeps scratching.

She had failed on seven previous set points against Barbora Strycova on Monday, but on the eighth, Williams hit an off-balance backhand that glanced off the frame of her racket and died in the middle of the court. Strycova couldn't retrieve it, and Williams, despite having her serve broken three times, walked off with the first set.

And ultimately the second for a 7-5, 6-4 victory to advance to the quarterfinals.

No. 1 seed Angelique Kerber, No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska and No. 4 Simona Halep are all gone, but even at the age of 35, Serena endures.

"It was a really good match for me, and I'm glad I got through it," Williams said in her on-court interview.

Her usually invincible serve was something less, however. Widely acclaimed as the best server in women's history, she won only 53 percent of her service points and was broken four times.

"It's good to know I have a Plan B, or an Option 2," said Williams, the No. 2 seed and a 22-time major winner. "It's always good to have something to improve on, and I know I can do better on my serve."

On Wednesday, Serena will play Johanna Konta, who advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Ekaterina Makarova at Margaret Court Arena.

"That's an incredible experience for me. She's one of the few players still playing I watched growing up,'' Konta, 25, said of Williams. "It's an incredible honor and I can't wait to share the court with her.''

Williams won only five more points than Strycova, 71-66, but enjoyed some fortuitous timing. Williams played the first match that began at 11 a.m. local time on a day when the temperature was predicted to hit the mid-90s.

The six-time Australian Open champion has yet to lose a set and is tracking toward her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, which would surpass Steffi Graf and leave her with the Open era record.

"I love pressure. I feel like I deal well with pressure,'' said Williams. "Honestly I have nothing to lose. I've won enough. ... Everything is a bonus for me right now. It's kind of a little relaxing.''