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This is an archive article published on January 20, 2005

Superpowers dominate

Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova on Wednesday shrugged off the doping row which has clouded her Australian Open campaign to follow former champio...

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Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova on Wednesday shrugged off the doping row which has clouded her Australian Open campaign to follow former champion Serena Williams into the third round of the Grand Slam.

Reigning US Open champion and fifth seed in Melbourne, Kuznetsova crushed unseeded Marion Bartoli of France 6-2, 6-0 in a mere 40 minutes in a performance that matched the scorching hot Melbourne Park temperatures.

Seventh seed Williams, the 2003 champion, needed just one game more and eight minutes longer to thrash Madagascar8217;s Dally Randriantefy 6-3, 6-0.

Four-time Melbourne champion Andre Agassi and last year8217;s runner-up Marat Safin showed they could keep pace with the top women and raced into the third round with a minimum of fuss. But Wimbledon champion and Kuznetsova8217;s compatriot Maria Sharapova struggled harder before the fourth seed overcame unseeded American Lindsay Lee-Waters 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.

Temperatures at Melbourne Park edged towards 35 degrees Celsius and second seed Amelie Mauresmo took a welcome break at the end of the second set of her match against teenager Dinara Safina, Marat Safin8217;s little sister.

Mauresmo had got off to a slow start but returned refreshed after the break 8212; allowed under the tournament8217;s heat policy 8212; to beat a wilting Safina 2-6, 6-1, 6-0.

Kuznetsova unfazed: But most of the attention on day three was fixed firmly on Kuznetsova after a Belgian government minister this week said she had tested positive for ephedrine at a charity exhibition tournament in Charleroi last month.

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Kuznetsova seemed unfazed by all the attention. She smiled and happily signed autographs after her resounding win.

8220;I feel like the star here,8221; she said of all the attention. 8220;I don8217;t feel like I did something wrong. I just try to take it out of my mind because I need to play my game, this is my first priority,8221; Kuznetsova said.

 

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