Sharapova into fourth round

Maria Sharapova booked her spot in the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-3 6-0 win over fellow Russian Elena Vesnina on the Vodafone Arena.

Sharapova will face another compatriot in the next round when she takes on Elena Dementieva after she overcame Israel's Shahar Peer 6-2 6-0 in her third round match earlier in the day.

It took last year's beaten finalist 52 minutes to take the first set before a devastating performance in the second gave Sharapova what turned out to be a comfortable win.

Vesnina, who made 28 unforced errors throughout the match, had no answer for Sharapova's power and the former Wimbledon champion breezed through the second set, winning it in just 29 minutes.

Sharapova's fellow big guns Justine Henin and Serena Williams also came through their matches to reach the fourth round.

Defending champion Williams booked her place in the fourth round of the Australian Open with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 win over Victoria Azarenka on the Rod Laver Arena today.

The win means Williams will face number 12 seed Nicole Vaidsova in the next round after the Czech saw of Japan's Ai Sugiyama in straight sets.

Azarenka did little to impede Williams' progress as the American powered down a total of 14 aces in an impressive performance that lasted 72 minutes.

Williams broke Azarenka's serve in the eighth game of the opener before holding her own serve to take a set in which the American banged down six aces to force her Belarussian opponent onto the back foot.

The 26-year-old continued to hold the upper hand in the second set, securing another break of serve in the fifth game before closing out the match.

Top seed Henin battled through to the fourth round of the Australian Open after a straight sets victory over gritty Italian Francesca Schiavone today.

Henin completed a 7-5 6-4 triumph on the Rod Laver Arena but was forced to dig deep to overcome the 25th seed.

After the two players swapped early breaks in the first set, Henin took a 3-2 lead when Schiavone dropped her serve after a backhand return flew off the frame of her racket.

Henin moved 5-3 in front after fighting back from 0-30 on her own serve but Schiavone claimed the break she needed two games later when the Belgian uncharacteristically hit an easy volley into the net before doing the same with a backhand return.

However, the world number one regained the initiative in the next, with Schiavone providing no answer to her powerful forehands.

Henin then closed out the set on her own serve with a cross-court volley, pumping her fist in delight on the way back to her seat.
Henin raced into a 4-1 lead in the second set but Schiavone again showed her fighting qualities to break back and held her serve to close to 4-3.

Despite some uncomfortable moments, Henin did not relinquish victory and duly closed out the win when Schiavone hit a return wide.

Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo was dumped out of the Australian Open by unheralded Australian Casey Dellacqua in a three-set stunner.

Dellacqua used the backing of a capacity Rod Laver Arena to down the 2006 champion 3-6 6-4 6-4 in just over two hours, booking herself a place in the fourth round of the Grand Slam.

Mauresmo, who slumped out of the world top ten on the back of an interrupted 2007 season, struggled on her serve and endured ten double faults, including six in the second set and three in the decider.