Davenport Survives Scare

Top seed Lindsay Davenport admitted she had been caught cold after booking her place in the third round of the Australian Open today.

In cooler conditions far removed from yesterday's temperatures of 95 degrees, Davenport, recovering from a bout of bronchitis last week, lost the first set to world No99 Michaela Pastikova of the Czech Republic.

The world No1 fought back to take the next two sets for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory as she continued her bid to end a five-year grand slam drought - her last title having come in Melbourne in 2000.

"I just wasn't ready to be at my best at the very beginning and it cost me against someone who came out playing very well and caught me on the back foot," conceded Davenport, who had lost just one game to former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez in the first round.

"I tried to buckle down after I lost the first set and concentrate more in the short-term than the long-term. I knew I wasn't playing my best so I knew I had to just get a win and do what I needed to do."

Anastasia Myskina also advanced to the third round despite a far from convincing display.

Myskina beat Israel's Tzipora Obziler 6-4, 6-2 on Vodafone Arena, but committed a host of unforced errors, particularly in the first set, when she lost her serve twice in succession.

The third seed eventually began to find her rhythm but will need a vast improvement to better her quarter-final appearance here last year.

Daniela Hantuchova had a more straightforward passage to the last 32, the 26th seed winning 6-4, 6-0 against Austria's Barbara Schett, who is retiring after the tournament.

Schett is still involved in the mixed doubles but after her last career singles match said: "The decision was made in the middle of last year. I thought if I'm not improving, if the passion is not coming back, I definitely want to quit.

"I wasn't very emotional until she had match point and then suddenly I had tears in my eyes. I knew sooner or later I was going to realise his is going to be the last point of my career."

Asked if they were tears of joy or sadness, the former world No7 added: "Both. I had a great time. I think I'm very happy about my career. It's going to be something completely new now but I'm definitely going to stay involved in tennis."

France's Tatiana Golovin was the first major casualty on day four of the centenary championships, the 20th seed crashing out in straight sets to American Abigail Spears.

The 16-year-old world No24, born in Moscow but based in Paris, lost 7-5, 6-1 to her 96th-ranked opponent.

Venus Williams had no trouble seeing off China's Shuai Peng earlier today.

Williams, the eighth seed, won 6-3 6-1 to set up a third round meeting with 27th seed Anna Smashnova, who also went through in straight sets against Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn.

Sixth seed Elena Dementieva dropped just three games in beating fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze.