Home hope Alicia Molik [Images] equalled her best performance at a grand slam event when she beat unseeded Russian Tatiana Panova 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday to set up a fourth-round Australian Open showdown with Venus Williams [Images].

"Bring it on," a beaming Molik said.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I feel my game is in perfect shape to play great tennis against Venus."

After a tough first set, 10th seed Molik grew in confidence and eased to victory in 56 minutes.

The 23-year-old never allowed Panova into the match, smashing 11 aces, with one serve in the final game measured at 196kph.

"That's probably one of my fastest ones," she said. "I played pretty well and it was nice to get through in straight sets."

Molik is hoping to become the first Australian woman to win her home grand slam since Chris O'Neil in 1978.

Three tournament victories in the second half of 2004 lifted Molik's ranking and confidence and she remains unbeaten in 2005, having won all three of her matches at the Hopman Cup and clinched the title in the Sydney International.

"I feel like I've been playing great tennis," she said.

"In an event like this, I always try and get the most out of myself. I'm always looking to improve.

"I'm always looking to do that little bit extra. I guess I'm always looking to try and perfect things."

Molik has lost all three of her matches with Williams but the Australian said she took confidence from their last encounter in Dubai last year, when the former world number one struggled for victory.

"I got near enough last time," Molik said.

"I was pretty disappointed losing to her in Dubai. I felt like I had many, many opportunities that I didn't take advantage of.

"I feel like I'm in the right position to give it a good go."

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