Defending champion and number one seed Jennifer Capriati was forced to a second set tie break by Italy's Rita Grande before claiming her place in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in Melbourne. Capriati was pushed all the way to an 11/9 tie break to take the second set 7-6 after taking the first 6-3, and now faces Amelie Mauresmo in the last eight following her victory over German Marlene Weingartner. Mauresmo, the seventh seed and 1999 finalist, had to dig deep when 3-4 down in the third set to overcome the unseeded Weingartner 6-0 4-6 7-5.
Meanwhile, Justine Henin, who may meet the winner in the semi-finals, raced through her fourth round match 6-0 6-3 against Russian 12th seed Elena Dementieva. Henin, seeded six, will next meet fourth seeded compatriot Kim Clijsters who rocketed into the quarter-finals with a comprehensive 6-0 6-2 victory over Slovakian Janette Husarova in just 45 minutes.
Filed by Shane Murray
