Rampant Sharapova leads seeds in Melbourne

MELBOURNE (AFP) –

Russia’s Maria Sharapova hits a return against Venus Williams of the US during their third round singles match on day five of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 18, 2013. Sharapova sent Williams crashing out of the tournament Friday in a crushing straight sets defeat.

A rampant Maria Sharapova blitzed Venus Williams on Friday as she led a parade of top women’s seeds into the Australian Open fourth round.

The Russian second seed crushed the veteran American 6-1, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena and has now won 36 of the 40 games she has played at the opening Grand Slam of the season.

None of the top names was troubled with Agnieszka Radwanska, Angelique Kerber and Li Na all progressing.

Seeded four, five and six respectively, they were joined by Ana Ivanovic, who won a battle of former world number ones by beating fellow Serb Jelena Jankovic.

Sharapova, who lifted the trophy at Melbourne Park in 2008 and was beaten in the final last year by Victoria Azarenka, next plays Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, who overcame Russian qualifier Valeria Savinykh.

Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska during her Australian Open match against Britain’s Heather Watson on January 18, 2013. Radwanska won her 12th match in a row Friday to power into the Australian Open fourth round in her best ever start to a season.

The world number two has been in irresistible form, becoming the first person to score two ‘double bagel’ 6-0, 6-0 Grand Slam wins in a row since 1985 in her opening two matches.

She failed to make it three against Williams, but gave it her best shot.

“We know each other’s games very well,” she said. “A lot of it is about executing from our own sides. I thought I did a good job of what I had in my head and what I wanted to accomplish out there today.”

Williams is only seeded 25 as she makes her way back from injury and illness, but was completely outplayed.

“I just had a lot of errors, that never helps,” said the 32-year-old, who vowed to keep improving.

Her sister Serena, along with world number one Azarenka, play their third round matches on Saturday.

Germany’s Angelique Kerber during her Australian Open match against Madison Keys in Melbourne on January 18, 2013. Kerber, who was celebrating her 25th birthday, won 6-2, 7-5 under the roof of the Rod Laver Arena.

While Sharapova is looking unbeatable, Poland’s Radwanska is the form player this year, winning her 12th match in a row without dropping a set in her best ever start to a season.

The world number four proved too strong for Britain’s Heather Watson in a 6-3, 6-1 thumping as she searches for her first Grand Slam title.

“I think I’ve never won 12 matches in a row,” the Pole said. “It was my first time I played Auckland and Sydney and it was a good start. I can’t complain.”

Radwanska, who won lead-up tournaments in Auckland and Sydney, next faces 13th seed Ivanovic who eased past Jankovic 7-5, 6-3.

Ivanovic won the French Open title in 2008, but has failed to make any significant impact at a Grand Slam since. But she proved too much for Jankovic, who has also struggled to recapture her best form in recent years.

Ivanovic said she has worked hard to lose weight and build strength.

“I’m happy to see the results, and I definitely move a lot better and faster,” she said.

China’s Li Na celebrates after beating Romania’s Sorana Cirstea during their Australian Open match in Melbourne on January 18, 2013. Li, a former winner at Roland Garros in 2011, breezed past Cirstea 6-4, 6-1.

China’s top player Li is also a former winner at Roland Garros, in 2011, and she breezed past Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-1.

The sixth seed, a finalist at Melbourne Park in 2011, next plays 18th-seeded German Julia Goerges, who beat Li’s compatriot Zheng Jie.

The Chinese number one revealed a goal of cracking the top three this year.

“I know it’s tough, but if you didn’t have a goal maybe you just feel like, ‘Oh, number six also is pretty good’,” she said.

Kerber, who was celebrating her 25th birthday, was given a second set workout by young American Madison Keys but was never seriously threatened in a 6-2, 7-5 win.

She has never been beyond the third round in Melbourne before and now meets 19th-seeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova.