Top seeds Angelique Kerber and Sloane Stephens out of Australian Open

Sloane Stephens has followed Angelique Kerber out of the Australian Open in a day of drama for the top women’s seeds at the Australian Open.

Amanda Anisimova of the US reacts after a point against Czech Republic's Petra Kvitova.

Sloane Stephens is out of the Australian Open with the fifth seed enduring a marathon three-set defeat at the hands of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The fifth-seed American and 2017 US Open champion led the first set 4-1 but eventually fell 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 3-6 to the Russian in an error-riddled encounter on both sides.

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Pavlyuchenkova - who made a quarter-final at Melbourne Park in 2017 - joked that the 2am finish had taken a toll on the scarce audience.

“I was even thinking during the match that I really appreciate that you stayed,” she said.

“I heard somebody was yawning, though, during the match. So I’m sorry - I thought it was quite an exciting match, but anyway.

“I’m happy I stayed awake also. It was tough.”

The 27-year-old said not even the late - or early - finish would excuse her from one of her most hated recovery methods.

“I hate the ice bath,” she said.

“But my physio will still make me do it, even at 2am. Recovery, of course (is on the agenda).”

Sloane Stephens was knocked out of the Australian Open by Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Picture: AFP

She will meet American college sensation Danielle Collins in the quarter-finals.

The match - which finished minutes before 2am - had significant ramifications for Australian Ash Barty.

On the day that second seed Angelique Kerber was demolished out of the main draw, Stephens’ exit means that should Barty progress through tomorrow’s clash with Petra Kvitova, the Aussie would be the highest-ranked player remaining in her side of the draw.

Earlier, Angelique Kerber, the No.2 seed and second-favourite to win the women’s title, has been sensationally knocked out of the Australian Open.

The German has been stunned in straight sets 6-0 6-2 in under an hour by unseeded American Danielle Collins.

Collins had never won a match at grand slam level before this year’s Australian Open. Now, she’s into the quarter-finals.

“I may not have won a grand slam match before this but I tell you, it’s going to keep happening,” she said.

“I better have many more of these.”

Danielle Collins celebrates her stunning win against Angelique Kerber. Picture: Getty Images

Collins said she held no fears about facing the three-time grand slam winner.

“When I was in college my coaches always told me to go out and believe in my shots,’ Collins said.

“All kudos to my coaching squad over there … they gave me a plan and I just did the job and executed.”

Petra Kvitova cruised into a quarter-final against Australia’s Ash Barty with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Amanda Anisimova in just 59 minutes.

There were 11 years in age and 81 ranking spots between Kvitova and Anisimova – and it showed.

World No.8 Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon winner, put on an exhibition against her teenage opponent on Sunday as she became the first woman through to the quarter-finals.

The youngest player since 2007 to progress so far in a Grand Slam, 17-year-old Anisimova was simply no match in any aspect of the clash, the American’s inexperience showing as she was given a tennis lesson.

Kvitova’s victory took her through to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time since 2012, the Czech’s best result at Melbourne Park a semi-final berth that year.

Amanda Anisimova was no match for Petra Kvitova.

Kvitova admitted some minor nerves going into the match, having lost to Anisimova at Indian Wells last year.

However, those soon went away as she found her groove early in the opening set.

“It is always pressure out there when you are favourite for the match and you never know how the young players are playing,” Kvitova said.

“I’m enjoying the time on the court and playing tennis, which is the main thing for me.

“Being in the quarter-final and in the second week of a Grand Slam, I’m really enjoying it.”