Victoria Azarenka has recorded a straight-sets victory over Varvara Lepchenko to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.
The former world number one continued her good form at Flushing Meadows with a 6-3 6-4 triumph over the American representative.
Azarenka, the 20th seed in New York, had not lost to Lepchenko since 2005, and she had little trouble in moving closer to the last eight as she recorded two breaks of serve during a one-sided opening set.
The second proved to be more competitive, with four breaks being registered in nine games, the last of which from Lepchenko stopped Azarenka serving out the match.
However, in the very next game, Azarenka raced into a 0-30 lead before eventually creating match point, which she took with a forehand winner.
The Belarusian will now play either Sabine Lisicki or Simona Halep for a place in the last four.
Darren Plant
