Melbourne, Australia: Two-time defending champion Victoria Azarenka shifted the spotlight from a tense rematch to her personal life with a center-court remark to rapper boyfriend Redfoo: She wants a ring with bling.
She may have been joking. Or not.
The comment offered the crowd a light-hearted laugh after Azarenka played Sloane Stephens for the first time since a contentious Australian Open semifinal last year, when Azarenka was accused of gamesmanship for an ill-timed medical timeout.
Like last year, Azarenka beat Stephens on Monday, winning 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals and stay on track for her third straight Australian Open title.
Unlike last year, Monday's fourth-round match offered little drama. Both Azarenka and Stephens have vigorously denied any lingering tensions and publicly, at least, heaped praise on their rival player's talents.
"Sloane is a great player, a very tough fighter," Azarenka said after the match. She also denied being ruffled by a body blow from a huge Stephen's forehand in the first set that hit her hard below the waist: "Why would I have a problem with that? That's tennis."
