Serena advances as sick Azarenka retires in Melbourne

SERENA Williams booked her quarter-final place at the Australian Open after teenage rising star Victoria Azarenka retired.

The Belarusian took the first set off the nine-time Grand Slam winner but was trailing a break in the second when she withdrew.

"I just woke up this morning feeling sick and I threw up all morning," she said.

"It's very disappointing for me. They think it was a virus or something. There was not much I could do about it."

Williams, who will fancy her chances of fourth Australian Open title in a women's draw stripped of its big names, admitted she was worried by Azarenka's health but relieved to progress.

"I feel so bad; she was playing so well," she admitted.

"She can't risk it, so I hope she did the right thing. She's obviously playing really well and has so many other Australian Opens out there for her."

Eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova also went through when China's Jie Zheng retired with a wrist injury.

Fourth seed Elena Dementieva beat Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 6-2 and faces Carla Suarez Navarro in the last eight.

Andy Murray's defeat to Fernando Verdasco means only the juniors are flying the British flag at Melbourne Park.

Guernsey's Heather Watson won through to the second round of the girls' singles on Sunday. 


And junior Wimbledon champion Laura Robson beat American Christina McHale 7-5, 6-3 to join her.

---

RELATED: Dokic rolls on as Jankovic crashes out in Melbourne

---