Sharapova, Davenport Seek Quarterfinal Berths in Heat at Australian Open

(1) Lindsay Davenport (USA) vs. (14) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) - Davenport leads 2-1

In the only round of 16 match between Grand Slam champions, top American Lindsay Davenport will take on one of Russia's best in Svetlana Kuznetsova. Both players have hoisted major hardware in the past, Davenport three times (1998 US Open, 1999 Wimbledon, 2000 Australian Open) and Kuznetsova once (2004 US Open), and both are looking motivated to make another grand run this fortnight. For the second straight year, Davenport came into the Australian swing as the world's top-ranked player, and there is no better major event for her to be posted as the favourite, as she is now 54-11 lifetime at the event, a record that includes impressive early round victories this week over former Top 20 player Karolina Sprem and rising star Maria Kirilenko. Kuznetsova also comes into this event on a high, reaching her first Tour singles semifinal in six months last week in Sydney, and has good memories in Melbourne from last year, where she was a quarterfinalist. These two have faced each other three times previously. In their first meeting at the 2004 US Open, Kuznetsova stunned a heavily-favoured Davenport 16 62 64 in the semis en route to the title. The American has exacted revenge in their last two encounters, a 61 76(2) victory in the semis of the Tier I event in Tokyo [Pan Pacific] and a 76(1) 63 victory in the quarters at Wimbledon, both last year. Watch for both players to try and dictate the points from the baseline, with Kuznetsova's forehand matching up well against the big groundstrokes of Davenport. Both the American and the Russian are also solid net players, with both having captured Grand Slam doubles titles in the past.

(4) Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs. (17) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) - Sharapova leads 3-1

Two of the Tour's brightest talents will battle it out for an Australian Open quarterfinal berth as Russian teenager Maria Sharapova takes on Slovakian star Daniela Hantuchova. Despite having questioned her participation in this event due to injury concerns, Sharapova has not disappointed through her first three rounds, hardly being tested and displaying the form that took her to the Wimbledon title in 2004 and three Grand Slam semifinals in 2005. In Hantuchova she will face a player who is coming off one of her biggest career wins, taking out No.13 seed and defending champion Serena Williams in straight sets in the third round. For Sharapova, the substitution of Hantuchova for Williams is hardly a relief, as she has lost to the Slovak in one of their prior meetings, a 76(6) 61 defeat at Tokyo [Pan Pacific] in 2004. However, the Russian her won all three of their meetings since, including a 63 61 demolition in their only prior Grand Slam encounter at Wimbledon that same year. These two players have very similar game styles, with both possessing massive serves and big groundstrokes. Watch for both players to try to get first strike in the rallies, as movement and hitting on the run are not either one's strong suit.

(6) Nadia Petrova (RUS) vs. Elena Vesnina (RUS) - First Meeting

Having already reached at least the quarterfinals at all the other majors, Nadia Petrova will be gunning for her very first Australian Open quarterfinal on Sunday as she takes on teen-aged Russian compatriot Elena Vesnina. Petrova has had much success in recent years at the other majors, twice a Roland Garros semifinalist (2003, 2005), twice a US Open quarterfinalist (2004, 2005) and once a Wimbledon quarterfinalist (2005), but her best performances in Melbourne have been round of 16 appearances in the last two years. By contrast, Vesnina is contesting her very first Grand Slam singles main draw. The 19-year-old's career highlights thus far are Tour singles quarterfinals last season at Tashkent and Quebec City, as well as her very first Tour title in doubles at Quebec City. These two will be playing for the first time.

(8) Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) vs. Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) - Henin-Hardenne leads 3-0

The Australian season has always been good to Justine Henin-Hardenne. The 23-year-old Belgian won two of her first three career Tour singles titles down under, at Gold Coast and Canberra in 2001, and is currently riding a 17-match win streak on the Australian continent, a streak that includes titles at Sydney and the Australian Open in 2004 as well as Sydney last week and her three wins so far at the 2006 Australian Open. She will be gunning for a quarterfinal berth on Sunday against unheralded Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual, one of the best doubles players in the world but also a dangerous singles player, who ousted No.18 seed Elena Likhovtseva en route to the round of 16 here. The 32-year-old from Madrid has reached Grand Slam quarterfinals twice previously, at Roland Garros in 1995 and here in 2003, where she was stopped in straight sets by Henin-Hardenne. In fact, Henin-Hardenne has won all three of their prior encounters in straight sets, never dropping more than four games in a set. Look for these two to rally from the baseline with a mix of topspin and slices, both waiting for an opportunity to move into the forecourt to finish points off. (WTA)