Davenport Battles Into Last 16

Lindsay Davenport overcame a determined Maria Kirilenko in three sets to advance to the last 16 at Melbourne Park.

Despite committing 42 unforced errors for the match, twice that of her opponent, the world No1 exploited Kirilenko’s weak second serve to progress 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

"It was really an up-and-down performance by me," said Davenport, who took the first set after an early break but was pegged back in the second.

"I felt like I was making a lot of errors but I felt like I was doing well to control the points in the first set.

"Then in the second set I really just kind of fell apart with making way too many errors. She was doing a good job of keeping a lot of balls in.

"I do feel like the third set I really was able to turn it around and play really well. I started playing aggressive, but with better margins and a little bit more contained. I’m happy I ended the match on a positive note."

Davenport will now meet another Russian, 14th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat Italian Mara Santangelo in straight sets.

In fact, it was a good day for the Russians, as Maria Sharapova, Nadia Petrova and Elena Vesnina all progressed.

Sharapova was barely tested as she beat Croatian Jelena Kostanic, breaking in the second game and never looking back on her way to a 6-0, 6-1 win. Despite the lopsided scoreline, the fourth seed insisted it was still a tough match.

"I wouldn’t say that was really easy, mentally it was pretty tough when you know you’ve got a very patient opponent and you know that it’s really hot out there," she said.

"I mean, you’ve got to be really tough, and the score doesn’t really explain the match."

Sharapova will face a tougher test in the last 16, where she will meet the winner of the match between reigning champion Serena Williams and 17th seed Daniela Hantuchova.

Last year Sharapova lost to Williams in the semi-final, but believes she is mentally tougher than she was then.
"I think a whole year brings a lot of experience to your game," she said. "My game has matured a lot. Most importantly I feel it’s not about other players seeing it, but I myself feel it when I’m out on the court."

Petrova, meanwhile, cruised past Maria Elena Camerin, who only managed one winner in the entire match as she went down 6-1, 6-2.

Vesnina took on Ukrainian Olga Savchuk, with neither woman ever having played in a Grand Slam before - let alone competed for a place in the round of 16.

The pair, both ranked outside the top 100, committed over 100 unforced errors between them as Vesnina came from a set down to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Things were slightly easier for Justine Henin-Hardenne, who thrashed Virginie Razzano 6-4, 6-1 to set up a meeting with Virginia Ruano Pascual, who defeated Laura Granville with similar ease 6-3, 6-3.