Six Russians go to Australian Open`s third round
Six out of nine Russian players progressed on Wednesday to the third round of the 2008 Australian Open tennis championship.
On day 3, two out five Russian players in the women`s singles were knocked out of the tournament. Olga Puchkova suffered a straight sets defeat to top-seed and world No. 1, Justine Henin of Belgium, 1-6, 5-7, while Yaroslava Shvedova lost to former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo (seeded 18) of France 4-6, 6-7 (5-7).
The most anticipated women`s match was between two former world`s No.1`s - Maria Sharapova (5) of Russia and unseeded Lindsay Davenport of the United States, which lasted just an hour, with the Russian confidently defeating the American 6-1, 6-3.
The two other Russian women who made it to the third round were Yelena Dementyeva (11) and Yelena Vesnina, who respectively defeated Spain`s Anabel Medina Garrigues 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 and Jill Craybas of the United States 6-2, 6-4.
Only one Russian out of four in the men`s singles failed to make it past the second round, as Yevgeny Korolyov retired in the third set of the match against Germany`s Philipp Kohlschreiber (29), when the score stood at 6-4, 6-2, 0-1 in favor of the German.
In other three matches Nikolai Davydenko (4) comfortably defeated Nicolas Mahut of France 6-4, 6-0, 6-3; Mikhail Yuzhny (14) overcame Italy`s Andreas Seppi 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4); and Igor Andreyev also enjoyed a straight sets victory against Kristof Vliegen from Belgium 7-5, 7-5, 6-2.
On Thursday another six Russian women and two men will attempt to make it past the second round.
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