Pavlyuchenkova downs sluggish Kuznetsova to make quarters

Two-time grand slam champion Kuznetsova was favourite as she took on Russian compatriot Pavlyuchenkova, who upset 11th seed Elina Svitolina in the third round.

However, Pavlyuchenkova, seeded 24th, was three games to the good inside eight minutes and eventually saw out the first stanza 6-3 in just 31 minutes.

There were fits of improved play from Kuznetsova but the 31-year-old could not summon the consistency to put the required pressure on Pavlyuchenkova's game.

And 25-year-old Pavlyuchenkova took one hour and eight minutes to add another scalp to progress to the quarter-final in Melbourne for the first time.

"I'm kind of shocked a little, but also so happy," says the Russian 24th seed, who has beaten three compatriots and a Ukrainian at Melbourne Park this week. "I think we were both a bit nervous but we played last week in Sydney and I won.

"I've been practising hard, working hard and enjoying it."