Williams continues quest for 23rd slam

Serena Williams’ campaign for a 23rd major crown continues on Monday at the Australian Open, when she opens play against Barbora Strycova.

The world No.2 is hot favourite to defeat the Czech 16th seed, and following the exit of Angelique Kerber on Sunday night, the bookmakers’ choice to win the title.

But given the shock results at Melbourne Park, anything now seems possible.

Kerber’s departure at the hands of Coco Vandeweghe on Sunday night followed that of the top two men – Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic – as well as women’s third seed Aga Radwanska and fourth seed Simona Halep.

Williams certainly has the pedigree to defy that trend.

She is bidding for a 10th straight quarter-final-or-better result at grand slams.

Strycova has lost both of her previous two meetings with Williams, both played in 2012, including in the second round of the Australian Open.

Johanna Konta is a possible opponent for Williams in the last eight, with the Brit taking on Ekaterina Makarova on Monday afternoon.

Australia’s sole remaining singles hope, Daria Gavrilova, will play dangerous fifth-seed Karolina Pliskova on Rod Laver Arena at night.

The meeting of unseeded duo Jennifer Brady and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni completes the fourth-round women’s action on Monday.

The marquee men’s match of the day is 2009 champion Rafael Nadal against sixth-seed Gael Monfils.

Nadal is ranked below the Frenchman but has a dominant 12-2 record against Monfils, and is unbeaten against him in five years.

World no.3 Milos Raonic, the highest men’s seed left in the draw, takes on 13th-ranked Roberto Bautista Agut on Hisense Arena. The winners of those two matches will meet in a quarter final.

Dominic Thiem and David Goffin meet in an all-European fourth-round match on Rod Laver Arena and Grigor Dimitrov also plays Novak Djokovic’s conqueror Denis Istomin on Margaret Court Arena.

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