PLAYER OF THE DAY: Ashleigh Barty - the 22-year-old remains on track to become the first Australian to win the Open women's singles crown since 1978 after taking down the great Maria Sharapova 4-6 6-1 6-1 in a two-hour, 22-minute thriller on Rod Laver Arena.

STAT OF THE DAY: Barty is the first home hope into the women's quarter-finals since Jelena Dokic in 2009.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I may not have won a grand slam match before this but I've got to tell you, I think it's going to keep happening," unheralded American Danielle Collins after announcing her arrival on the grand slam stage with a stunning 6-0 6-2 defeat of world No.2 Angelique Kerber.

TOURNAMENT SUMMARY: As the Barty party continued, Petra Kvitova quietly extended her winning streak to nine matches to set up a last-eight clash with Australia's remaining hope. World No.2 Rafael Nadal marched on in the men's event to book a quarter-final date with next-gen American star Frances Tiafoe.

Australian Associated Press