American Day at Melbourne

He was swiftly joined by top seed Andy Roddick who made beating Dutchman Sjeng Schalken look as easy as 1-2-3 8212; triumphing 6-1, 6-2, 6-3.

Women8217;s fifth seed Davenport was just as emphatic, beating 11th seed Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 6-3, a thrashing that left the Russian in tears.

Davenport will play Justine Henin-Hardenne next after the top seed remained on track for a first Australian Open crown with an economical 6-1, 7-6 defeat of Mara Santangelo.

France8217;s Amelie Mauresmo also advanced, made to fight all the way before beating brave local hope Alicia Molik 7-5, 7-5.

Agassi recovered from an early loss of serve to win the first set against Paradorn and never looked back.

Agassi will meet Sebastien Grosjean for a place in the semis after the Frenchman beat American Robby Ginepri 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Roddick followed Agassi on to Rod Laver Arena centre court and took just 79 minutes to wipe Schalken.

The Dutchman simply had no answer to Roddick8217;s power off the ground or pace of serve.

8220;I feel solid out there 8212; it8217;s all right,8221; the 21-year-old American said. 8220;I thought I returned really well, from the back of the court that8217;s as well as I8217;ve played this tournament.8221;

Roddick will next face former world number one Marat Safin after the Russian overpowered American James Blake 7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3.

The match featured a spectacular shot from Safin to break Blake a final time when the Russian appeared to throw the racket at the ball 8212; an illegal shot.

Blake refused to blame that one point for the defeat.

Safin said: 8220;It was just pure luck, 100 percent. I think I just threw it8230;I don8217;T know how it happened.8221;

Whether the racket was in his hand when the ball was struck or not was too close to call for the umpire to make and the break stood.

Henin-Hardenne8217;s far from emphatic win over little-known qualifier Santangelo lines her up for a tough last-eight showdown with Davenport, the only former champion still in the draw.

The Belgian, holder of the French and US Open titles, is a strong favourite to win her first Australian Open but did not have things all her own way against an opponent ranked 129th in the world.

Henin-Hardenne will have to be in much better form against 2000 champion Davenport.

On Sunday the American8217;s heavy hitting overpowered 19-year-old Zvonareva from the start. Such was Davenport8217;s dominance that the match lasted just 47 minutes.

Mauresmo, a finalist at Melbourne Park in 1999, was made to work for every point in her fourth round match before finally putting down Molik8217;s challenge.

Mauresmo will play 32nd seed Fabiola Zuluaga of Colombia for a place in the semis. Reuters