Jennifer Capriati remains on course to retain her Australian Open crown after easing into the third round with a comfortable 6-1 6-3 win over fellow American Meilen Tu in Melbourne today. The defending champion took just 55 minutes to earn her place in the next round despite her own admissions that she is still far from 100% fit. The 25-year-old outplayed her opponent in every department and dropped serve just once in the second set to trail 3-1 but quickly reasserted her control on the match to win in straight sets.
Meanwhile, Belgian teenagers Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin remain on course for a quarter-final meeting following a shock-free women's draw. While Clijsters, girlfriend of world number one Lleyton Hewitt, had it easy against Austrian Barbara Schwartz, dropping only one game in each set, Henin was taken to a decider by Spaniard Marta Marrero, but won it 6-1. Two Australians stand in their way, with wild card Cindy Watson facing fourth seed Clijsters and Nicole Pratt tackling sixth seed Henin.
Earlier, Russian 12th seed Elena Dementieva comfortably beat compatriot Anastasia Myskina 6-4 6-2, while seventh seed and former runner-up Amelie Mauresmo of France beat Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik 7-5 6-3.
Filed by Shane Murray
