Federer and Serena move up a gear at Aussie Open

AFP Global Edition | 2010-01-23 09:11:19

<div><p>Top seeds Roger Federer and Serena Williams moved up a gear Saturday with straight sets wins as they closed in on more silverware at the Australian Open.</p><p>The world's premier players have 26 Grand Slam titles between them and both look primed to add to their collections.</p><p>The Swiss great made short work of Spanish 31st Albert Montanes 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 while Williams completed a 6-0, 6-3 demolition of Carla Suarez Navarro as the fourth round of the opening Grand Slam of the season took shape.</p><p>Also staying on track was men's third seed Novak Djokovic, sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko and ninth seed Fernando Verdasco.</p><p>Joining Williams on the women's side of the draw was sister Venus, seventh seed Victoria Azarenka, ninth seeded Vera Zvonareva and 13th seeded Samantha Stosur.</p><p>Federer, with 15 Grand Slam titles, now faces a round of 16 clash against either Lleyton Hewitt or Marcos Baghdatis, who play later, while Williams will take on Stosur.</p><p>"I've come through a difficult draw, I feel physically fine and mentally fresh, but the opponents will get tougher from here," said Federer.</p><p>"So far it's been great. Obviously you elevate your game gradually as the opponents get harder, so I'm happy the way I feel."</p><p> The imposing and super-fit Stosur, blessed with one of the biggest serves in women's tennis, had a breakthrough 2009, making the semi-finals at the French Open and was in top form Saturday.</p><p>She outclassed Italy's Alberta Brianti 6-4, 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena and is gunning for another crack at Williams, who she beat when they last met in Stanford in July.</p><p>"We've had a couple of close matches the last two times we've played and I got the last one so I'm going to ride with that and go into the match feeling pretty confident," Stosur said.</p><p>Williams was also looking forward to the rematch.</p><p>"I think she's playing great. She beat me the last time we played, so she has a lot of momentum. A ton of momentum," she said.</p><p>"I definitely expect the crowd to root for Sam. Hopefully, my mom will cheer for me. I should be fine."</p><p>Sister Venus set up a fourth round clash with Italian 17th seed Francesca Schiavone by beating Australian Casey Dellacqua 6-1, 7-6 (7/4).</p><p>Also pushing through were Azarenka, who destroyed Italy's Tathiana Garbin 6-0, 6-2, and Zvonareva, a 6-1, 7-5 winner over Argentine Gisela Dulko.</p><p>They will play each other for a place in the quarters.</p><p>"I think I did very well today. I had a good game plan and I definitely played to it very well," said Azarenka.</p><p>"I was going for my shots and playing comfortably and confident."</p><p>Chinese hope Li Na also stayed in the tournament with a battling three-set win over off-court friend Daniela Hantuchova.</p><p>Like Federer, Serbian third seed Djokovic was also in imposing form as he destroyed Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.</p><p>Djokovic will next play unseeded Pole Lukasz Kubot, who was handed a free ride when Russian 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny withdrew with a wrist injury.</p><p>Russian sixth seed Davydenko stayed on the boil with a 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 hammering of Argentina's Juan Monaco and now faces a tough match against ninth seeded Fernando Verdasco.</p><p>The Spaniard booked his place in the last 16 when Austrian Stefan Koubek retired with a virus after losing the first set of their match.</p><p>"Of course, you never want a guy to be sick and to feel like this, but it's also good as I have more rest for an important match in fourth round," said Verdasco, who made the semis here last year.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=67580543&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>


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