Russians on a roll in Melbourne

Maria Sharapova [Images] led the Russian brigade into the fourth round of the Australian Open with an impressive 6-0, 6-1 win over Croatia's Jelena Kostanic on Friday. Nadia Petrova and former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova also scored easy wins to book their berths in the round of 16.

Sharapova 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 and set up a possible clash against defending champion Serena Williams [Images].

The fourth seed could play Williams in the next round in a repeat of last year's semi-final if the American wins her Friday night match against Daniela Hantuchova [Images].

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.

Sixth seed Petrova handed a 6-1, 6-2 thrashing of feisty Italian Maria Elena Camerin while Kuznetsova crushed Italian Mara Santangelo 6-3, 6-1.

Petrova wrapped up a comfortable victory in 72 minutes to advance to the fourth round against fellow Russian Elena Vesnina, who beat Ukraine's Olga Savchuk 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Camerin had saved six match points in her second round win over Ekaterina Bychkova but was completely overwhelmed by Petrova.

The 23-year-old from Moscow [Images] has slipped through the draw largely unnoticed but is yet to drop a set and has lost only 11 games.

Kuznetsova blasted 10 aces past her opponent to become the fourth Russian into the last 16 at Melbourne Park this year, with two more still to play their third round matches.

The 14th seed won the U.S. Open at the end of 2004 but tumbled down the rankings last year, failing to win a single tournament while falling in the first round of the defence of her New York title.

However, the signs are good that she is regaining her form and confidence this year. She was unbeaten at the Hopman Cup and reached the semi-finals of last week's Sydney International.

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