Melbourne - Ana Ivanovic recovered after a brief second-set threat from Italian Alberta Brianti to earn a 6-3, 6-2 victory Wednesday and reach the third round of the Australian Open.
The Serb fifth seed, who won the French Open last year and briefly touched number one, remains just outside the discussion for the top spot by the end of the season's first major.
But her performance gave hope that she is preparing to climb back up the standings.
Melbourne - Ana Ivanovic recovered after a second-set threat from Italian Alberta Brianti to earn a 6-3, 6-2 victory Wednesday to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
The Serb fifth seed, who won the French Open last year and briefly touched number one, remains just outside the discussion for the top spot by the end of the season's first major.
But her performance gave hope that she is preparing to climb back up the standings.
Melbourne - Lleyton Hewitt has vowed to fight on with his career after suffering a heartbreaking early exit at the Australian Open. The 27-year-old is ready to take his game to the American indoor courts next month after losing to Fernando Gonzalez.
With a ranking which will now stand close to 100 for the former number one and double Grand Slam champion, prospects admittedly look grim.
Melbourne - Spain's Fernando Gonzalez crushed the home hopes of Lleyton Hewitt as he dumped the former finalist out in the first round of the Australian Open 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Tuesday.
The second-day shock at Melbourne Park derailed the 27-year-old Hewitt's plans as he played his home major for the 13th time.
He had not lost in the first round at Melbourne Park since 2002. It is the first time since the 2000 Open that he has not been seeded at a Grand Slam.
Sania Mirza breezed into the second round of the Australian Open tournament by getting the better of Marta Domachowhska. The Indian dominated throughout and an improved serve saw her easily overcome the challenge put forth by Marta.
The Hyderabadi girl served with consistency and hit attacking groundstrokes to outplay her opponent, ranked 61 in the world, 6-1, 6-4.
The 22 year old Sania was raced away with the first set in less than half an hour.
Melbourne - Pale-skinned Andy Murray cheated the heat on Tuesday at the Australian Open, aided by a brief 45-minute outing as Romanian Andrei Pavel quit their first-round match trailing 6-2, 3-1 with a chronic back injury.
Murray, who lost sensationally in the first round at Melbourne Park a year ago, used the court to his advantage to gain some small respite from temperatures which soared into the high 30s Celsius.
Melbourne - Ana Ivanovic recovered after a brief second-set threat from Italian Alberta Brianti to earn a 6-3, 6-2 victory Wednesday and reach the third round of the Australian Open.
Melbourne - Ana Ivanovic recovered after a second-set threat from Italian Alberta Brianti to earn a 6-3, 6-2 victory Wednesday to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
Melbourne - Lleyton Hewitt has vowed to fight on with his career after suffering a heartbreaking early exit at the Australian Open. The 27-year-old is ready to take his game to the American indoor courts next month after losing to Fernando Gonzalez.
Melbourne - Spain's Fernando Gonzalez crushed the home hopes of Lleyton Hewitt as he dumped the former finalist out in the first round of the Australian Open 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Tuesday.
Sania Mirza breezed into the second round of the Australian Open tournament by getting the better of Marta Domachowhska. The Indian dominated throughout and an improved serve saw her easily overcome the challenge put forth by Marta.
Melbourne - Pale-skinned Andy Murray cheated the heat on Tuesday at the Australian Open, aided by a brief 45-minute outing as Romanian Andrei Pavel quit their first-round match trailing 6-2, 3-1 with a chronic back injury.
