Huber, Philippoussis advance; Henman ousted

“I didn’t let her come into the match. Everything came together for me,” Huber said. “Today’s match was much better than the first two rounds but I must improve if I am going to beat Venus (Williams) in the next round,” Huber said.

CONTRASTING DAY: Playing with different partners, the 1999 men’s doubles champions Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes, started the 2000 championship in contrasting styles with Bhupathi winning his opening round even as Paes crashed to defeat on Friday.

The ninth-seeded pair of Bhupathi and David Prinosil of Germany defeated Australian duo of Wayne Arthurs and Michael Tebbutt in straight sets 6-4 7-5 to enter the second round.

There was no such joy for Paes, partnering Dutchman Jan Siemerink on the Tour this year, crashed out in miserable fashion 6-7 (5-7) 3-6 to French wildcards Guy Forget and Guillaume Raoux.

In the women’s sigles, top-seeded Swiss Martina Hingis advanced to the fourth round with a 6-1 6-0 win over Italian Tathiana Garbin in just 54 minutes.

Chanda Rubin of the United States also advanced to Round Four beating French seventh seed Nathalie Tauziatto 6-4 7-6 (7-3).

“I couldn’t be concerned about whether that was her last match,” she said. “I had to concentrate on playing my match.

“She is always a tough competitor and her style of play is really aggressive — so that keeps you alert. It was a little bit more pressure than playing a baseliner.

“I tried to not let her be the aggressor all the time. I tried to attack when I could and it worked pretty well."

Rubin, who has a tendency to freeze in tight situations, was pleased to get through the second set.

French misfortune continued on a baking hot Centre Court when Asa Carlsson of Sweden ousted 10th seed Sandrine Testud 4-6 6-3 7-5 in 2 hour 24 minutes to book her own berth in the last 16.

In the opening men’s singles third-round match of the day, Alex Corretja, the Spanish 10th seed, recovered from losing the opening set to oust big-serving Dutch beanpole Richard Krajicek 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-2 in 2 hour 29 minutes.

The Spaniard had to face a welter of huge serves in the opening set as Krajicek blasted down a dozen aces but in the second set it was a different story with Corretja winning four straight games from 2-2.

“I played great,” the Spaniard said. “I returned perfectly and hit some good passing shots and lobs. I mixed it up really well. My level of tennis was pretty high and it is always encouraging to beat a player of his quality. He’s always dangerous.”

“I feel like I’m at the same level as when I won Indian Wells and I also played well mentally-keeping my mind on the match the whole time,” he said.

It was only the second time the pair had met — and Corretja’s first victory.

It was not surprising former Wimbledon champion Krajicek ran out of steam. This is only his fifth tournament this year after he underwent surgery on his left knee in late January.

“It was important to stay calm and not get crazy about his serve — he was serving huge at the start,” Corretja said.

“From the second set on I returned his second serve quicker and didn’t give him the chance to volley.”

Former champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov fought his way past Sebastien Grosjean of France 6-3 6-1 5-7 6-4 to reach the last 16. Kafelnikov will now play Fernando Vicente of Spain, who ousted British 13th seed Tim Henman 7-5 4-6 6-4 4-6 6-3.

Big-serving Australian giantkiller Mark Philippoussis swatted Morocco’s Hicham Arazi 6-2 6-1 3-6 6-3. He will play Spanish 16th seed Juan Carlos Ferrero, who advanced when Argentine opponent Mariano Puerta withdrew owing to a thigh strain with the Spaniard leading 6-2 3-2.

Third-seeded American Monica Seles breezed through with a 6-1 6-2 stroll against Rita Kuti Kis of Hungary; 13th seed Amelie Mauresmo beat Kveta Hrdlickova of the Czech Republic 6-1 6-0; Mary Pierce ousted compatriot Virginie Razzano 6-4 6-0.