Henin, Sharapova bolt into Open quarter-finals

Top seed Henin, unbeaten since Wimbledon last summer, crushed Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan 6-2, 6-2. Fifth seed Sharapova, who lost the 2007 final to Serena Williams, beat Elena Dementieva for the eighth time in ten meetings, 6-2, 6-0.

 "I did a good job of just being solid," Sharapova said. "Matches against her always physically challenging.

 "We tend to have long rallies and she gets lots of balls back. I was really trying to focus on doing the right things and when getting the opportunity, trying to come in and hit a few volleys."

   For Henin, who had to quit the 2006 final with illness against Amelie Mauresmo, it's time for a new start after surviving the opening week of the fortnight.

 "Now it's like another tournament is going to start," the Belgian said. "It's another story, it's serious things that start.

 "That's what I'm here for. I'm very excited about tough matches coming up and I hope it's going to be a great week of tennis."

   In catch-up third-round contests delayed by Saturday's day of rain, ninth seed Daniela Hantuchova became the first woman through, defeating Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-2, 6-3.

 Russian 14th seed Nadia Petrova out out countrywoman Ekaterina Makarova 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) while Poland's Marta Domachowska reached the fourth round over China's Li Na 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

 On the men's side, Juan Carlos Ferrero brought back memories of his glory days at the top of the game with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 upset of Argentine David Nalbandian in a delayed third-round match.

 The Spaniard who holds a Roland Garros title and briefly stood world number one, claimed his third consecutive victory over the tenth seed.

 "I'm playing good tennis since two months," Ferrero, losing finalist a week ago at Auckland, said.

 "I practised so hard in December. Last week I played good. The final (which he lost to German Philip Kohlschreiber) gave me a lot of confidence to came here and try to play at the same level."

   Ferrero fired a dozen aces and 32 winner as he beat the burly Nalbandian, who came to the Grand Slam with no preparation after tweaking his back last week.

 The Spaniard will next face compatriot and fifth seed David Ferrer, a winner over veteran American Vince Spadea 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

 On-fire Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga eliminated eighth-seeded compatriot Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (8-6) 6-3.  

   After Saturday's rain which prevented play on outside courts at Melbourne park, women also began getting third-round matches caught up.

By Bill Scott, dpa