Women’s number three seed Victoria Azarenka has become the first player to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2012 Australian Open.

Women’s number three seed Victoria Azarenka from Belarus has become the first player to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2012 Australian Open.

The in-form Azarenka chalked up her fourth successive straight sets victory, beating Iveta Benesova from the Czech Republic 6-2 6-2 in a match lasting one hour and 17 minutes.

Azarenka has now equalled her best-ever performance at an Australian Open, having also previously reached the last eight in 2010.

She is riding a nine-match winning streak this year after previously winning the Sydney International.

Azarenka now advances to a quarter-final against either Agnieszka Radwanska from Poland or Julia Goerges from Germany.