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Melbourne, Australia • Fifth-seeded Angelique Kerber has been ousted in the fourth round of the Australian Open by the woman who defeated Serena Williams at the same stage last year.

No. 19-seeded Ekaterina Makarova had a 7-5, 6-4 win in the opening match Sunday on Rod Laver Arena, beating the highest seed to tumble so far at the season's first major.

Makarova beat Williams in the fourth round in 2012 at Melbourne Park and went on to reach the quarterfinals, which remains her best result at a Grand Slam. Kerber and Makarova were two of only four women in 2012 to beat Williams, who lost only one match in the second half of last season as she collected titles at Wimbledon, the London Olympics, the U.S. Open and the WTA Championships.

"Seems like it was the same this year and last year. Unbelievable feeling," Makarova said. "I really like to play here. The crowd is so perfect."

In the first men's match Sunday, fourth-seeded David Ferrer had a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 win over No. 16 Kei Nishikori of Japan to reach the quarterfinals, where he could meet fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro.

Nishikori had won two of his previous three matches with Ferrer and was a quarterfinalist in Australia last year, but struggled with 65 unforced errors in the 2-hour, 10-minute match.

No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic, who has the past two Australian titles, had a night match against No. 15 Stanislas Wawrinka.

Kerber, a Wimbledon semifinalist last year, had beaten Makarova in their previous three matches and went in as favorite at Melbourne Park. She had trouble with her back, but said it didn't affect the outcome of the match, adding that Makarova was capable of going further in the tournament.

"I think if she played very well she can, yeah, beat also top players," Kerber said.

The 24-year-old Makarova could meet fellow Russian, No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova, in the quarterfinals, at the same stage they met last year. Sharapova can advance by beating playing Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens later Sunday in the fourth round.

Another pair who met here last year played out a similar result on Saturday night, with No. 2-ranked Roger Federer knocking Bernard Tomic out of the tournament in straight sets to end Australia's participation in either the men's or women's singles draws.

Federer gave the 20-year-old Aussie an instant reality check by breaking him in the very first game to set up a 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-1 win.

Federer will face Canadian Milos Raonic, who had a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-4 win over Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in a matchup of two big servers. —

Highlights

O No. 19-seeded Ekaterina Makarova — who beat Serena Williams in the fourth round in last year's tournament — beats No. 5 Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-4.

• No. 4 seed David Ferrer beats No. 16 Kei Nishikori in straight sets in the fourth round.