MELBOURNE - Maria Sharapova booked her place in the fourth round of the Australian Open tennis tournament and a possible match against defending champion Serena Williams with an impressive 6-0 6-1 win over Croatia's Jelena Kostanic today.
The Russian teenager showed no ill-effects of the shoulder injury that threatened her campaign as she cruised to victory in 68 minutes on a hot and humid day at Melbourne Park.
The fourth seed could play Williams in the next round in a repeat of last year's semifinal if the American wins her match against Daniela Hantuchova tonight.
Kostanic, a former Australian Open junior champion, won just 14 points in the opening set against Sharapova.
She managed to avoid the dreaded "double bagel" (6-0 6-0) by holding her opening service game in the second set, but Sharapova reeled off the next five games to complete an easy victory.
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Second seed Andy Roddick breezed into the fourth round of the men's draw with a 6-1 6-2 6-2 victory over France's Julien Benneteau.
Roddick, who has already enjoyed comfortable victories over Michael Lammer and Wesley Moodie this week, now meets Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis for a place in the quarter-finals.
The world number three barely needed to kick into top gear against the qualifier and their 159-place difference in the rankings was evident throughout.
The 23-year-old American restricted the Frenchman to just 40 points in total and sealed the match with his 17th ace after one hour and 22 minutes.
- REUTERS
Tennis: Sharapova on course for Serena showdown
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