Australian Open 2016: Thursday Results, Highlights, Scores Recap from Melbourne

Several top seeds turned in fine performances on Day 4 of the 2016 Australian Open, but much of the focus was on Lleyton Hewitt, who closed out his singles career in losing fashion before his adoring fans in Melbourne.  

Hewitt fell to No. 8 David Ferrer, and although he is still alive in doubles play, the two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1 essentially reached the end of the line Thursday.

Elsewhere on the men's side, both No. 2 Andy Murray and No. 4 Stan Wawrinka looked dominant in straight-sets victories, as they continue to look like two of the biggest threats to knock off top-ranked Novak Djokovic.

In addition to a few more seeded players getting sent packing from the women's draw, No. 14 Victoria Azarenka maintained her status as one of the top contenders by blowing past Danka Kovinic.

As the Aussie Open field continues to shrink, here is a full listing of Thursday's notable results, along with more on the tournament's most intriguing storylines.

Day 4 Men's Singles Results

Round	Winning Player	Losing Player	Score
2	(2) Andy Murray	Sam Groth	6-0, 6-4, 6-1
2	(4) Stan Wawrinka	Radek Stepanek	6-2, 6-3, 6-4
2	(8) David Ferrer	Lleyton Hewitt	6-2, 6-4, 6-4
2	(23) Gael Monfils	Nicolas Mahut	7-5, 6-4, 6-1
2	(10) John Isner	Marcel Granollers	6-3, 7-6(6), 7-6(2)
2	(13) Milos Raonic	Tommy Robredo	7-6(6), 7-6(5), 7-5
2	Lukas Rosol	(25) Jack Sock	7-6(6), 7-6(5), 6-3
2	(32) Joao Sousa	Santiago Giraldo	6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1
2	(18) Feliciano Lopez	Guido Pella	7-6(2), 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 6-7(8), 6-4
2	(21) Viktor Troicki	Tim Smyczek	6-4, 7-6(5), 7-6(4)
2	Andrey Kuznetsov	(30) Jeremy Chardy	6-4, 7-6(5), 7-6(5)
2	(31) Steve Johnson	Thomaz Bellucci	6-3, 6-2, 6-2
2	(16) Bernard Tomic	Simone Bolelli	6-4, 6-2, 6-7(5), 7-5

Day 4 Women's Singles Results

Round	Winning Player	Losing Player	Score
2	(3) Garbine Muguruza	Kirsten Flipkens	6-4, 6-2
2	(20) Ana Ivanovic	Anastasija Sevastova	6-3, 6-3
2	(14) Victoria Azarenka	Danka Kovinic	6-1, 6-2
2	(15) Madison Keys	Yaroslava Shvedova	6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3
2	(7) Angelique Kerber	Alexandra Dulgheru	6-2, 6-4
2	Laura Siegemund	(19) Jelena Jankovic	3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4
2	Annika Beck	(11) Timea Bacsinszky	6-2, 6-3
2	(21) Ekaterina Makarova	Tatjana Maria	6-4, 6-2
2	Denisa Allertova	(30) Sabine Lisicki	6-3, 2-6, 6-4

Hewitt Plays Final Singles Match

After 20 years as a professional, Hewitt reached the end of the line Thursday in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Ferrer.

The wildly popular Aussie announced last year that the 2016 Australian Open would fittingly be his final tournament, and while the 34-year-old veteran entered his second-round clash with Ferrer as a substantial underdog, it didn't make his ouster any less emotional.

A teary-eyed Hewitt expressed his gratitude as he bid farewell to the Australian Open crowd, and tournament organizers played a video package in tribute to the likely future Hall of Famer, per ESPN Tennis:

"

Thursday @lleytonhewitt played one last singles match at his 20th @AustralianOpen. Here's the #AusOpen send off https://t.co/EhVseKkQEr

— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) January 21, 2016"

Although Hewitt undoubtedly would have liked to have made a deeper run at his final event, he had no regrets about the way he prepared and played against Ferrer, according to ATPWorldTour.com:

"

I came out and gave everything I had like always. I left nothing in the locker room. That's something I can always be proud of. My whole career I've always given 100 percent. I love coming out here and competing. It's never hard to come out playing in front of such great spectators every time I play out here on Rod Laver Arena. It's like a second home for me and I'm just so fortunate to have this opportunity 20 years in a row.

"

While Hewitt's high-water mark as a player came back in 2001 when he was the No. 1 ranked player in the world at the age of 20, he has been a consistent presence at big tournaments ever since.

Perhaps the one thing missing from his resume is an Australian Open title, as he fell to Marat Safin in the 2005 final.

Despite never winning the big one on his home turf, ESPN's Chris McKendry is among those who will remember him as a true competitor and champion:

Hewitt enjoyed a remarkable career with Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles to his credit, so he certainly has nothing to hang his head about, and he didn't have much left to prove either.

Even though going out on a losing note is never the ideal scenario, doing it in front of 15,000 fans at Rod Laver Arena was a fitting end for the Adelaide native.

Murray and Wawrinka Cruise into Third Round

Aaron Favila/Associated Press

Two of the top seeds in the men's draw turned in spectacular performances on Day 4, as both Murray and Wawrinka were barely tested in straight-sets victories.

Murray seemed to have a major test in front of him going up against big-serving Aussie Sam Groth, but he was never threatened in a 6-0, 6-4, 6-1 romp.

The second-seeded Scotsman surprisingly dominated Groth in the service game with a 10-3 advantage in aces. Murray also won an impressive 82 percent of his first-serve points, while Groth converted just 59 percent of his.

Following the win, Murray knew he hadn't gone up against Groth at his best, and he mentioned some tactical changes that may have benefited his opponent, according to ATPWorldTour.com:

"

I know he can serve better than that. He doesn't just hit the big serves. He can use different spins and stuff. I think when he's serving well he can make it very tough for guys, because he's not that predictable with the serve. He changes the pace on it. I think he actually is better from the back of the court than he thinks he is. I don't think he maybe needs to serve and volley as much as he does, because from the back he hits the ball good as well.

"

Murray's win set up a third-round clash with No. 32 Joao Sousa, but most fans are likely already looking ahead to a potential semifinal meeting with Wawrinka.

The Swiss star held up his end of the bargain Thursday with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 trouncing of Czech veteran Radek Stepanek.

Like Murray, Wawrinka dominated on serve with 15 aces, and the Stanimal also dictated play overall as evidenced by the 43 winners he fired.

While it is difficult to find much fault in Wawrinka's performance, it wasn't entirely perfect, as seen in this video, courtesy of the Australian Open on Twitter:

Even so, Wawrinka looks to be in top form, which should serve him well when he goes up against the tricky Lukas Rosol in the third round.

The former Australian Open and French Open champion has truly become an elite player over the past two years, and it can be argued he deserves to be favored to meet either Djokovic or Roger Federer in the final.

A possible battle with Murray in the semis won't be easy, though, and it could turn out to be the match of the tournament if it comes to fruition.

Azarenka Keeps Championship Hopes Alive

Andrew Brownbill/Associated Press

Many tabbed Azarenka as the favorite to win her third Australian Open title in 2016 despite the presence of world No. 1 Serena Williams, and the 26-year-old native of Belarus did little to dissuade her supporters with an excellent second-round performance Thursday.

Vika made quick work of Montenegro's Kovinic in a 6-1, 6-2 victory, which came on the heels of throwing up double bagels in her opening-round match.

While it is tough to ignore how dominant Azarenka has been, she insisted that it isn't something she thinks about in the moment, per WTATennis.com: "I really don't count the games. What really works for me is to stay in the moment. I enjoy my time on the court and play every point like it's my last. I just want to enjoy the journey. Right now I just can't wait to be out here again."

Azarenka will next take the court for her third-round match against heavy underdog Naomi Osaka of Japan.

While it is difficult to envision Azarenka losing the tilt, things will get far tougher for her moving forward in all likelihood.

Should No. 3 Garbine Muguruza beat Barbora Strycova in the third round on the heels of her victory over Kirsten Flipkens on Thursday, it will set the stage for a huge fourth-round clash.

Azarenka and Muguruza are two of the most powerful players in the women's game, and they are also perhaps the two biggest threats to Serena in the draw.

Unfortunately for Azarenka, missing much of 2015 due to injury has forced her to work her way back up through the rankings, and that means she will probably have to take on a player of Muguruza's caliber far earlier than she would have liked.

Azarenka will eventually have to beat some top players no matter what in order to win her third career Grand Slam title, though, and her performance on Day 4 suggests she has it in her to go the distance.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.