By Adrianna Outlaw | March 27, 2016

 

Victoria Azarenka crushed qualifier Magda Linette, 6-3, 6-0, to extend her winning streak to eight matches and roar into the Miami Open round of 16.

Photo credit: Miami Open

On a sweltering Easter Sunday, Victoria Azarenka was in no mood for second chances.

Azarenka ravaged Magda Linette's second serve, crushing the qualifier, 6-3, 6-0, to roar into the Miami Open round of 16.

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The Indian Wells champion extended her winning streak to eight matches. Azarenka has won 16 of her last 18 sets, raising her 2016 record to 18-1.

Azarenka won 17 of 22 points played on Linette's second serve, converting five of eight break points.

"I always try to never underestimate any opponent," Azarenka said. "Playing in a tournament like Miami, you don't expect players to give up and not try, whatever the scoreline is.

"I just wanted to stay aggressive, keep going for all my shots, and also not give her an opportunity to come back. Because once you do that, anybody can come back. Happy that I stayed focused. I took my opportunities and kept applying pressure."

She beat the heat in the process spending just 70 minutes on court. Azarenka said keeping a grip on a sticky day was one of her biggest challenges.

"Honestly, to hold the racquet (is the toughest thing), because it's so easy to slip out of your hands. It was the case today," Azarenka said. "I tried to hit the net and slipped out and I got a code violation because of that. But I don't know. I think to breathe is one thing. Takes a couple days to adjust.

"But definitely being able to stay hydrated in these conditions is really important. You have to overdrink than you probably would on a daily basis. Just also I think that's very important."

The 13th-seeded Belarusian broke to open the match and consolidated for 2-0. Azarenka worked through a two fault game to stretch the lead to 3-1.

The depth and pace of the former world No. 1's drives were too much for the world No. 110, who was frequently forced to counter from her back foot.

Azarenka broke in Linette's opening service game of the second set for 2-0, reeling off eight consecutive games.

The two-time Miami Open champion will take on either fourth-seeded Garbine Muguruza or American wild card Nicole Gibbs for a quarterfinal spot.

Angelique Kerber rebounded from a sluggish opening set to advance to the round of 16.

The second-seeded German won seven straight games against Kiki Bertens to build a 1-6, 6-2, 3-0 lead when the Dutch qualifier retired with heat-related illness.

The Australian Open champion will play Timea Babos for a quarterfinal spot.

Babos beat qualifier Naomi Osaka, 7-5, 6-0. No. 32-seeded Monica Niculescu dissected a frustated CoCo Vandeweghe, 6-4, 6-1.