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Roddick, Sharapova advance in Australia
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-20 14:57
She next plays 2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, one of four
Russians advancing Friday to the fourth round.
Maria Sharapova also didn't waste time in the heat, routing Jelena Kostanic
6-0, 6-1 and setting up a possible fourth-round showdown with Serena Williams.
Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, lost to Williams in the semifinals
here last year after twice serving for the match and squandering three match
points.
Williams, the defending champion, was playing No. 17 Daniela Hantuchova later
Friday, with the winner advancing to play the fourth-seeded Sharapova.
"It'll be great," Sharapova said, referring to a possible matchup with
Williams. "Of course I was disappointed last year. But ... I'll get my revenge."
Sharapova, who lost to the eventual champion in all four majors in 2005, came
into the season's first Grand Slam event after two months on the sidelines with
a sore shoulder.
The 18-year-old Russian star was no longer seriously bothered by the pain.
Three other Russian women advanced. No. 6 Nadia Petrova and 2004 U.S. Open
winner Svetlana Kuznetsova had straight-set wins over Italians Maria Elena
Camerin and Mara Santangelo, respectively.
Elena Vesnina shanked a serve on match point, bouncing it on her side of the
net. But she recovered and won on her next serve against Olga Savchuk.
French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne had a 6-4, 6-1 win over Virginie
Razzano.
On the men's side, No. 4 David Nalbandian, the Masters Cup champion, was to
play Finland's Jarkko Nieminen.
No. 11 David Ferrer beat No. 18 Mario Ancic 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, and Fabrice
Santoro overcame No. 8 Gaston Gaudio 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, 6-4 in an entertaining
match that lasted 3 hours, 47 minutes.
In the third set, both players traded between-the-legs shots in one rally
featuring all kinds of trick shots, including Santoro's two-handed slice
forehand.
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