Federer, Williams through at Australian Open
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-20 10:13

Svetlana Kuznetsova shrugged off a drug controversy to advance at the Australian Open along with favourite Serena Williams as world number one Roger Federer eased into the third round.

US Open champion Kuznetsova, at the centre of a doping storm after testing positive for the stimulant ephedrine at an exhibition event last month, brushed aside France's Marion Bartoli 6-2, 6-0 at Melbourne Park.

Roger Federer celebrates after taking the second set against Takao Suzuki in their Australian Open second round match in Melbourne. [AFP]

In the men's draw, red-hot Swiss favourite Federer, four-time former champion Andre Agassi and last year's beaten finalist Marat Safin of Russia all swept through in straight sets.

Federer, the defending champion, encountered stiffer-than-expected resistance from Japanese qualifier Takao Suzuki en route to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win on the Rod Laver Arena centre court.

The top seed was also jolted by going a break down in the first set, before recovering swiftly by reeling off four games on the trot, producing some exquisite shots along the way.

Federer, who now faces Finland's Jarkko Nieminen in the last 32, said he had needed to be at the top of his game against Suzuki.

"I had to play a really good match to win," said Federer. "'Just good enough' is never enough these days."

Federer laced his performance with some dazzling strokeplay, including one remarkable running forehand which he caressed around the net post to win a break of serve for a 5-4 lead in the second set.

"I've been practising that one for two weeks," Federer joked afterwards.

Eight seeded Andre Agassi of the US blows kisses to the crowd following his second round victory over Rainer Schuettler of Germany at the 2005 Australian Open in Melbourne. [AFP]

Earlier Wednesday, Agassi demolished Rainer Schuettler of Germany 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 while Safin raced to a 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Bohdan Ulihrach of the Czech Republic.

Agassi, at 34 the oldest man in the field, was beaming after coming through another match without any problems from a hip injury which had been troubling him in the days leading up to the tournament.

"To be able to have the time to get it (injury) better up to this point is a great sign that it will be 100 percent, because I've got another day now," Agassi said. "My movement was plenty good enough for me to think about my game and not think about that."

Kuznetsova, meanwhile, showed that the drug furore which has dominated the early days of the Open had not seriously affected her by downing Bartoli in 40 one-sided minutes.

"I think I'm professional enough to go out there and do my job. I'm a professional and I want to show that it doesn't affect me ... I didn't do anything wrong," said Kuznetsova.

In other matches, women's favourite Serena Williams was a similarly emphatic winner when she overwhelmed Dally Randriantefy of Madagascar 6-3, 6-0.

Seventh seeded Serena Williams of the US blows a kiss to the crowd following her victory over Dally Randriantefy of Madagascar in 2005 Australian Open second round in Melbourne. [AFP]

Williams will now play India's Sania Mirza in the next round on Friday. Wildcard entrant Mirza created history by becoming the first woman from India to reach a grand slam third round by beating Hungary's Petra Mandula 6-2, 6-1.

"I'm really looking forward to finding out hard she hits the ball," said 18-year-old Mirza of her match-up with Williams.

But while Williams and Kuznetsova were cruising, other women's seeds found the going harder.

France's world number two Amelie Mauresmo and fourth seeded Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova both survived scares to avoid joining a clutch of seeded players who were dumped out.

Mauresmo, chasing her first grand slam title, was forced to fight back from a set down before overpowering Russian teenager Dinara Safina 2-6, 6-1, 6-0 to advance to the third round.

Sharapova was given a fright by lowly-ranked American Lindsay Lee-Waters, the world No. 87, before coming through 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.

The 17-year-old prodigy couldn't hide her relief after securing the win, which sets up a third-round meeting with China's Li Na on Friday.

"It was an amazing match. Both of us gave it all we've got, in the third set we just fought for every single ball," Sharapova said. "In the end it was just a matter of a few points."

China's Li Na reaches for a backhand during her 6-3, 6-4 victory over Japan's Shinobu Asagoe, 28th seed, in their second round match at the Australian Open at a court in Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia Wednesday, Jan.19, 2005. [AP]

But other seeds were not so lucky. Japan's 28th seed Shinobu Asagoe lost to China's Li, while Russian ninth seed Vera Zvonareva crashed 6-3, 6-3 to compatriot Vera Douchevina.

Li, who made history last year by becoming the first Chinese player to win a title on the WTA Tour when she won in Guangzhou, advanced to the third round after downing Asagoe 6-3, 6-4 in 1hr 7min.

It was the latest in a series of notable results by Chinese women, who have come from nowhere in the past decade to establish themselves on the international circuit.

Seventeenth seed and last year's semi-finalist Fabiola Zuluaga of Colombia meanwhile was bundled out by Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany 6-2, 7-6 (7/2).

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