Australian Open: Serena Qualifies For Quarter Final

Six-times champion Serena Williams has overcome a patchy serving display and a searching challenge from Czech Barbora Strycova to book her spot in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

Second-seeded Williams needed eight set points before finally clinching the opening set with a bizarre miss-hit winner.

The holder of 22 major titles went on to win 7-5 6-4 despite only getting 45 per cent of first serves into play against the 16th-seeded Strycova.

“It was a really good match from me and I’m glad I got through it,” said Williams. “I wasn’t serving my greatest today and she was getting a lot of returns in there.”

The American has advanced to at least the quarter-finals at the past 10 majors.

The 35-year-old has also reached the quarters 11 times overall at the Australian Open.

Williams will face either red-hot British ninth seed Johanna Konta or Russian Ekaterina Makarova in the last eight on Wednesday at Melbourne Park.