Two-time winner Victoria Azarenka in ominous form as she reaches Australian Open fourth round

Victoria Azarenka is looming as a genuine threat in the women's draw at the Australian Open after destroying 15th seed Elina Svitolina in straight sets in their third-round match.

Azarenka — who won the women's title in 2012 and 2013 — took just over an hour to extinguish Svitolina's tournament hopes, winning 6-0, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.

«I feel like I played tactically [well] out here,» Azarenka said in her courtside interview. 

«She's (Svitolina) a great competitor and player.

»I had to try and stay on top of her as much as possible and not let her breathe.

«That was my goal before the match and I felt like I executed that well.»

At 32 years of age and seeded 24, Azarenka was not expected to figure as a contender in Melbourne.

With the issue of player vaccination firmly in the spotlight following Novak Djokvovic's deportation from Australia, Victoria Azarenka says she would support the introduction of a mandate in tennis.

But the former world number one's run to the fourth round has been impressive, as she has not dropped a set and only lost nine games in reaching the last 16.

Azarenka's next opponent will be either fourth seed Barbora Krejčíková or the 26th-seeded Jeļena Ostapenko — both French Open winners — who also take to Rod Laver Arena today.

While much of the focus of the top half of the women's draw has been devoted to the potential fourth-round clash between Ash Barty and Naomi Osaka, Azarenka has been quietly going about her business.

She tore through the first set against Svitolina, breaking her opponent's serve three times and giving up just 10 points.

Azarenka rushed out to a 5-2 lead in the second, with the only sign of her showing nerves coming when she served for the set.

She blew five match points before finally