Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo was bundled out of the
Australian Open yesterday by an unheralded opponent, but Roger
Federer has few problems as he marched into the quarterfinals.
American sixth seed Andy Roddick also remains in the hunt,
digging deep to overcome Mario Ancic in five sets to make the last
eight where he will meet compatriot Mardy Fish, who took care of
16th seeded Spaniard David Ferrer.
But third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova joined Mauresmo on the scrap
heap, slumping to Israel's Shahar Peer 6-4, 6-2.
The manner of Mauresmo's 6-4, 6-3 loss to unseeded Lucie
Safarova again raised questions of her being a choker.
The second seeded Frenchwoman appeared to have shaken off the
tag last year when she won here and then at Wimbledon but her
defence ended meekly against an opponent ranked 70 in the
world.
"I'm not completely down or whatever, I'm just disappointed,"
said the ousted title holder.
"But I am going to go back on the court, go back to work, that's
obviously what I need."
Safarova, who will now play Czech 10th seed Nicole Vaidisova,
who beat seventh seed Elena Dementieva of Russia, said it was the
biggest win of her career.
"It's amazing, I still can't believe it, it's incredible," she
said.
Peer, 19, was overjoyed at one of the biggest victories of her
career over the 2004 US Open champion.
"I have nothing to lose and every match is open," said the 16th
seed, who will now play seven-time Grand Slam champion
Williams.
Williams rolled back the years to crush eleventh seed Jelena
Jankovic 6-3, 6-2, touted as one of the hottest new talents in
tennis.
It was the sternest test yet for Williams, a winner here in 2003
and 2005, as she comes back from injury that restricted her to just
four tournaments last year.
Defending champion and top seed Federer wrapped up his 33rd
consecutive win, against the dangerous Novak Djokovic of Serbia
6-2, 7-5, 6-3, and will next play Tommy Robredo of Spain as he bids
for his 10th Grand Slam crown.
"I feel good physically. I've been winning in straight sets
every time, plus a day off, and I couldn't be better," said the
Swiss maestro, who has won in Melbourne twice before and hasn't
dropped a set this year.
Roddick ovecame the aggressive net-charging Ancic 6-3, 3-6, 6-1,
5-7, 6-4 in just over three hours with his greater consistency and
patience the key to victory.
"Win or lose I had to turn the tables on his aggression,"
Roddick said.
"I just put the ball in the court, that helped. He missed a
couple of volleys maybe he wouldn't normally miss."
Anna Chakvetadze of Russia also made the fourth round, beating
unseeded Croat Jelena Kostanic Tosic 6-4, 6-4 and will play Swiss
eighth seed Patty Schnyder for a place in the quarter-finals.
Slovak Daniela Hantuchova defeated American Ashley Harkleroad
6-7 (6-8), 7-5, 6-3 and will now play in-form fourth seed Kim
Clijsters.
(China Daily January 22, 2007)