Agassi stretched

Second seed and former champion Andre Agassi of the United States moved into the fourth round of the men8217;s singles at Wimbledon today w...

Second seed and former champion Andre Agassi of the United States moved into the fourth round of the men8217;s singles at Wimbledon today with a 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 7/4, 7-6 7/4 win in 3hr 30min over Moroccan 27th seed Younes El Aynaoui. Agassi next meets Australian big-hitter Mark Philippoussis.

But it was Maria Sharapova who showed she has a ruthless streak to match her killer looks as she led a full-blooded Russian charge on the women8217;s singles title at Wimbledon earlier today.

The 16-year-old darling of the photographers became one of five Russian girls to advance to the last 16 of the tournament with a 6-4, 6-4 dismissal of Jelena Dokic, the 11th seed and herself a former semi-finalist at the All England Club.

After setting up a fourth round clash against France8217;s Mary Pierce, Sharapova gave the world8217;s media a glimpse of the competitive drive that has carried her so far, so young.

8220;When I come into a tournament I am expecting to win, that is my philosophy,8221; she said. 8220;I cannot go to a tournament thinking I am going to get my ass kicked today.

8220;Yes I am surprised to be here but I always knew one day it would come and all the hard work would pay off. This is reality.

Sharapova was joined in the fourth round by top seed Serena Williams, who eased past compatriot and 28th seed Laura Granville 6-3, 6-1 with what she said was her best performance so far. Williams will now face Russian No 1 Elena Dementieva, who ended the challenge of Hungarian qualifier Aniko Kapros. The Russian contingent in the last 16 is made up by Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anastasia Myskina, both of whom went through today, and Vera Zvonareva, who will face Venus Williams.

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Sharapova, who left Russia at the age of nine to hone her skills in the United States, had no doubt about the reason why so many Russian girls have emerged in recent years.

In the men8217;s singles, Australia8217;s Mark Philippoussis moved up after a 4-6 7-6 9/7, 6-4, 7-6 8/6 win over the Czech Republic8217;s Radek Stepanek. Germany8217;s Alexander Popp gave British tennis fans a glimmer of consolation for their players8217; dismal Wimbledon showing when he eliminated 11th seed Jiri Novak.

Tim Henman may be the only true Brit left in either the men8217;s or women8217;s singles but Popp at least has a British mother and admits his affinity with the country may have contributed to his success here.