Tenth seed Makarova strolls into Open quarters

MELBOURNE: Russian 10th seed Ekaterina Makarova strolled into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday with a straight sets victory over unseeded German Julia Goerges.

Makarova was never troubled against the world number 73, winning 6-3, 6-2 to set up a final eight clash with either third seed Romanian Simona Halep or unseeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.

"I´m happy that I showed my best tennis today," she said. "I was comfortable. We´d never played before so I didn´t really know what to expect."

It is the third time the 26-year-old, who broke into the top 20 last year, has made the quarters at Melbourne Park after strong runs in 2012 and 2013.

She has also appeared in the last 16 in 2013 and in 2011, making the Australian Open the world number 11´s most consistent Grand Slam.

"I don´t know what it is, something special for me, but I´m really happy to be here," she said.

Makarova also made the US Open semi-finals last year, losing to eventual champion Serena Willliams, the top seed at Melbourne Park this year. (AFP)