Sharapova passed to 4-th stage of Australian Open

Strongest Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova easily passed to 4-th stage of Australian Open championship.

Sharapova spent only 68 minutes to defeat Croat sportswoman Jelena Kostanic with score 6:0, 6:1. Kostanic is ranked 71 in rating, Sharapova - 4-th.

Next stage of Australian Open Sharapova will play with a winner of match between Serena Williams (USA) and Daniella Khantukhova (Slovakia). As a reminder, youngest Williams sister is an acting champion of Australian Open. Last year she won Sharapova on stage of semi-final.

Another 3 Russian tennis-players passed to 4-th stage. Svetlana Kuznetsova with score 6:3, 6:1 defeated Italian Mara Santandjelo and now waits for winner of the match between Russian Maria Kirilenko and first world racket Lindsey Davenport.

Nadezhda Petrova also defeated Italian Maria Elena Kamerin in 2 sets with smashing score 6:1, 6:2. During next stage she will play with co-patriot Elena Vesnina, who won Ukrainian Olga Savchuk with score 5:7, 6:2, 6:4.

sections: Sport