Perfect Clijsters into third round
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Clijsters: "It doesn't happen that often that you play so well."
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MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) -- A rampaging Kim Clijsters scored a rare grand slam "bagel" at the Australian Open as she crushed Italian Maria Elena Camerin 6-0 6-0.
The Belgian was joined in the third round by her fiance Lleyton Hewitt and his Davis Cup teammate Mark Philippoussis as well as second seed Roger Federer and number three Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Hewitt beat Slovakia's Karol Kucera 1-6 6-1 6-4 6-1 and Philippoussis triumphed in a tense night match against France's Fabrice Santoro.
The inventive Frenchman is called "The Magician" in the locker room but it was Philippoussis who had all the tricks as he closed out a 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2 victory to thrill the crowd.
"I love stepping out on that centre court," he told reporters.
"Playing in Melbourne, where I am from, where I was born it is a great feeling. I am going to give everything."
Wimbledon runner-up last year, Philippoussis and his power game frustrated Santoro's efforts to impose his wily tactics and touch play.
That frustration got the better of the Frenchman and television cameras showed him spitting towards a line judge after a foot-fault had been called, a gesture which is sure to earn him a fine.
Inevitable journey
Venus Williams continued her inevitable journey back to the pinnacle of the sport after six months on the sidelines. Playing a tournament for the first time since losing the Wimbledon final last July, she pounded Russian Vera Douchevina 6-4 6-2.
"I am real clear on what I want to execute and what I want to do on the court," she smiled. "I'm real clear with my technique."
Clijsters' technique could have been hampered by the ankle injury she picked up in Perth this month but any doubts over her mobility were erased with a sparkling centre court performance.
"That was perfect," the second seed smiled after only the fourth grand slam whitewash of her career. "It doesn't happen that often that you play so well. Really perfect... My ankle felt good."
Runner-up at the French and U.S. Opens last year, she is seeking her first grand slam title. Her great work rate is respected on the circuit and that energy may be put to use off court if Hewitt's comments are to be taken seriously.
"I'll just rock up. She can organize it," he laughed when asked about wedding plans.
Ferrero survived a couple of minor injury scares to battle past Italian Filippo Volandri 6-4 7-6 7-5.
The Spanish third seed needed pain-killers after twisting his back and he called for the trainer again after hurting his left elbow lunging for a volley.
Lofty ambitions
Wimbledon champion Federer was in imperious form, racing past U.S. qualifier Jeff Morrison 6-2 6-3 6-4 before outlining his lofty ambitions.
"I know I can win this tournament," the Swiss player said. "Before, you know, I would have been happy with the quarters or the semis.
"I guess I'm more hungry...I know now what it takes to win a slam. I expect more of myself."
Fifteen-year-old French schoolgirl Tatiana Golovin may expect more of herself after sealing the most unlikely win of the tournament.
Three days shy of her 16th birthday, she beat 14th-seeded Israeli Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi 6-2 6-3.
"I don't think it has sunk in yet...it's definitely the best win of my career," the Russian-born French teenager grinned.
Marat Safin's little sister Dinara Safina led a raft of Russian women into the third round.
Safina upset South Africa's Amanda Coetzer 7-5 6-3, Elena Likhovtseva knocked out Francesca Schiavone, Anastasia Myskina defeated Emmanuelle Gagliardi and Lina Krasnoroutskaya and Maria Sharapova completed Russia's winning quintet.
Briton Tim Henman, the 11th seed, beat Radek Stepanek 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-0 to keep alive his dream of an elusive grand slam title.
"I felt like my game plan and my tactics were good and I was coming forward pretty much as much as possible," said Henman. "I was very strong between the ears."
Copyright 2004
Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
