(Reuters) - Japan's Kei Nishikori and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus continued their Australian Open preparations by swiftly marching through to the quarter finals of the Brisbane International on Wednesday.
Nishikori cruised past Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3 6-4 on Pat Rafter Arena before twice Australian Open champion Azarenka dispatched Belgian lucky loser Ysaline Bonaventure 6-3 6-2.
Azarenka battled with her serve early in the first set against the young Belgian, who played valiantly after stepping in for world number two Simona Halep, who pulled out with an Achilles problem.
Azarenka, currently ranked 22 in the world, served seven double faults and lost her opening service game but broke back in a marathon fourth game to take control of the contest as her novice opponent faded.