Maria, Serena cruise into Rd 4 of the Australian Open as No 7 seed Zvonareva & No 9 seed Bartoli exit
As No 7 seed Zvonareva & No 9 seed Bartoli exit
Former champion Maria Sharapova and five-time champion Serena Williams enjoyed convincing wins in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday, but there were tears as two of the top 10 seeds departed after major upsets.
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Sharapova returns to Kerber during Saturday's Rd 3 match
Russian Sharapova defeated Germany's Angelique Kerber in straight sets 6-1, 6-2, a scoreline that flattered the fourth seed, who was pushed hard by Kerber in the second set before winning in just under an hour and a half.
Serena Williams in action on Saturday. Pic/AFP
Sharapova, who won in Melbourne in 2008, broke Kerber three times in each set but had to battle in the second set as the German 30th seed lifted her game.
Marion Bartoli
Williams thrashed World Number 92 Greta Arn 6-1, 6-1 in 59 minutes to close out the women's third round in an ominous display as she seeks her 14th grand slam win. She will now take on Ekaterina Makarova in the round of 16 following the unseeded Russian's surprise 7-6 (9/7), 6-1 win over seventh seed Vera Zvonareva.
Vera Zvonareva look dejected after exiting in Rd 3 on Saturday
Zvonareva left in tears after her loss to 56th-ranked Makarova, while China's Zheng Jie also caused an upset as she sent ninth-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli crashing out 6-3, 6-3.
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