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January 19, 2013

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Djokovic extends run, Sharapova ousts Venus

NOVAK Djokovic absorbed plenty of pressure from Radek Stepanek before advancing to the fourth round of the Australian Open. The Serb broke the 34-year-old, 34th-ranked Stepanek late in each set of a 6 -4, 6-3, 7-5 win yesterday, extending his winning streak to 17 matches at the Australian Open.

Djokovic will play No. 15 Stanislas Wawrinka, who beat American Sam Querrey 7-6 (6), 7-5, 6-4. Querrey's loss meant that for the second consecutive year, there will be no American men in the fourth round at Melbourne Park.

Maria Sharapova beat Venus Williams 6-1, 6-3 in an unexpectedly lopsided third-round result. Venus could consider herself fortunate - Sharapova's opponents in her first two matches failed to even win a game.

Sharapova, who pumped her arms six or seven times after she served out with an ace, has lost just four games heading into her fourth-round match against Belgian Kirsten Flipkens.

Elsewhere in the men's singles, fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic beat Austria's Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 and will next play South Africa's Kevin Anderson, who beat No. 22 Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2. Others advancing included Japan's Kei Nishikori and No. 8-ranked Janko Tipsarevic, who has a tough next round against No. 10 Nicolas Almagro, a 7-6 (3), 7-6 4), 6-1 winner over No. 24 Jerzy Janowicz.

In women's matches, Angelique Kerber survived some nervous moments before fending off American teenager Madison Keys 6-2, 7-5, then got to blow out the candles on a cake to celebrate her 25th birthday. Kerber will next play No. 19 Ekaterina Makarova of Russia, who advanced after a tough 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-4 win over 2007 Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli.

Fourth-seeded Angieszka Radwanska won her 12th match in a row with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Britain's Heather Watson.



 

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