<div><p>Kim Clijsters showed nerves of steel on Wednesday to come through a tough test and make the Australian Open third round alongside Svetlana Kuznetsova.</p><p>Other top names also showed their mettle, including Caroline Wozniacki, Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka and Li Na, who all made the second round as organisers cleared rain-delayed matches held over from Tuesday.</p><p>Clijsters only conceded four games against her first round oppenent but she was given a more thorough examination by Thai veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn.</p><p>The 26-year-old Belgian, who won the lead-up Brisbane International, eventually triumphed 6-3, 6-3, but it was harder than the score suggested for the 15th seed, now back full time after a break to start a family.</p><p>Her serve was broken in each set before she dug deep to dispose of the Thai, playing in her 51st Grand Slam.</p><p>Clijsters could meet fellow comeback queen Justine Henin in the quarter-finals, although Henin has a major hurdle to clear in fifth seed Elena Dementieva on Rod Laver Arena later Wednesday.</p><p>Unlike the high-profile Clijsters and Henin, Russian third seed Kuznetsova is flying under the radar and looked impressive in her 6-2, 6-2 defeat of countrywoman Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.</p><p>The French Open champion, whose best effort here has been the quarter-finals, said she had prepared well in the off-season and was ready to make an impact.</p><p>"I think I've done a good pre-season, I've worked hard and I've enjoyed it," she said.</p><p>"I mean, I'm feeling good. I worked on new things."</p><p>Fourth seed Wozniacki downed Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4, 6-2 to get her campaign off to a winning start.</p><p>The Dane, who enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2009, winning three titles and finishing runner-up to Clijsters at the US Open, edged a tight first set but overpowered her opponent in the second.</p><p>"I had a tough opponent, so I was really happy to get through," she said.</p><p>"I was feeling confident on the court and comfortable."</p><p>"I'm really happy about the way things are going and I've been practising hard, so I'm really pleased about the way I'm playing."</p><p>Belarussian seventh seed Victoria Azarenka blasted her way into the second round by crushing France's Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-2, 6-0, while China's 16th seed Li coasted past New Zealand's Marina Erakovic in straight sets.</p><p>Ninth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva also pushed on deeper into the tournament, sending Slovakia's Kristina Kucova packing 6-2, 6-0.</p><p>Maria Sharapova remains the highest profile casualty on the women's side and her Russian conqueror Maria Kirilenko marched into the third round with a 6-3, 6-1 romp against Austria's Yvonne Meusburger.</p><p>In the men's draw, 11th seed Fernando Gonzalez was the first man into the third round with his 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 win over Turkey's Marsel Ilhan.</p><p>Scot Andy Murray resumes his quest to become the first Briton to win a Grand Slam since Fred Perry in 1936 when he plays Frenchman Marc Gicquel later Wednesday.</p><p>Seventh seed Andy Roddick is also in action against Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, while fourth seed Juan Martin Del Potro, the US Open champion, faces American James Blake.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67311334&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

Copyright 2010  <a href="http://www.afp.com/english/links/?pid=copyright">AFP Global Edition</a></div></div>