Andre Agassi underlined his intentions for a fifth Australian Open crown today at the same time that Amelie Mauresmo raised her hopes of a maiden grand slam victory.
Agassi and Mauresmo, both seeded fourth, hammered their way into the third round of the opening grand slam of the year in sweltering conditions at Melbourne Park.
They were joined by top seeds Andy Roddick and Justine Henin-Hardenne, who wasted little time advancing. Roddick flashed past Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-2 6-2 6-3 and Henin-Hardenne ousted French qualifier Camille Pin 6-1 6-4.
France's Mauresmo smashed Ludmila Cervanova 6-0 6-2 before saying that the absence of past champions Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati meant she feels she could go one better than her runner's-up spot in 1999.
"I feel probably there is an opportunity to take in this tournament... not only because there are some players missing but also because I feel good, because I feel my game is getting better and better," Mauresmo said. "I've always played some good tennis here."
She played superbly today, overwhelming the 64th-ranked Slovakian in a one-sided match lasting 44 minutes.
Agassi will be hoping he can continue "going like this" after a commanding 6-0 6-2 6-4 defeat of Czech qualifier Tomas Berdych. It took the four-times champion 82 minutes to wrap up his 23rd consecutive win at Melbourne Park, having lifted the title in 2000-01 and 2003.
Injury kept the American out of the 2002 tournament. Agassi also won the Open on his first trip to Melbourne Park in 1995 and now rues the nine years at the beginning of his career that he stayed away.
"I wish I had played here every opportunity I had," the 33-year-old said. "Apart from the fact that this place has been so amazing for my career, I just enjoy being here so much.
"I think I didn't play at the time for reasons that were questionable. I was young and I wanted time off. I didn't have the respect for the traditions of the game I should have had. I did the same at Wimbledon, those are times you can't have back."
Determined to make up for lost time, Agassi always comes to Melbourne in perfect physical shape, and his performances in his first two matches mark him out once again as a strong favourite.
Roddick, coached by Agassi's former mentor Brad Gilbert, looks to have adopted something of Agassi's fitness regime. He also appears in fantastic shape and is playing with great confidence.
"I think the biggest difference is when I don't feel like I'm playing that well, I still kind of have an underlying confidence," he said. "That's the main difference."
Former world number one Gustavo Kuerten reached the third round for the first time, ending a miserable run at Melbourne Park. Until today's 7-5 6-7 6-4 6-3 victory over Ivan Ljubicic, the Brazilian had endured five second-round losses and two defeats in the first round here.
Lindsay Davenport also advanced but not without a little difficulty. The only former women's champion in the draw, the American beat France's Emilie Loit 6-3 3-6 6-0.