Former champion Maria Sharapova has edged Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals for the eighth time.
The fifth seed blasted 21 aces to oust the 18-year-old 12th seed 7-5 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.
Sharapova will either face Serena Williams, who beat her in last year’s final, or fellow Russian Margarita Gasparyan in the quarter-finals.
