TENNIS/AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS: Jennifer Capriati and Venus Williams, the world's top two players who share the four grand slam titles, gave Australian Open organisers a lift yesterday. Williams declared she was fit to play after an injury scare and Capriati showed the devastating form that won her the title last year.
While the seeds have dropped like flies in the men's draw, the top eight women's seeds are intact, with the exception of Serena Williams who cried off with an injury before the tournament started. Venus, the number two seed who suffered a knee injury on Wednesday, has decided to press on after intensive treatment.
The Wimbledon and US Open champion was struck by tendinitis in her left knee during her second round match against American compatriot Kristina Brandi, whom she defeated 6-3 6-4. She notified the WTA yesterday she was ready to face Slovak Daniela Hantuchova today.
Capriati sprinted through the first set against fellow American Meilen Tu in 21 minutes then took her foot off the throttle for a comfortable 55-minute win. Despite having her right thigh strapped as a precaution after hurting her hip last week, the French and Australian Open champion won 6-1 6-3.
"When the matches get more difficult, more of a test, then I'll know where I'm at but I think I'm ready. I feel ready and I feel strong," she said afterwards.
Elsewhere, the Belgian express gathered momentum with victories for fourth-seed Kim Clijsters and six-seed Justine Henin. Clijsters, the girlfriend of Lleyton Hewitt and adopted by the local crowd as one of their own after the downfall of so many Australians, whipped Austrian Barbara Schwartz 6-1 6-1. The crowd will be divided in her next match when she meets Australian Cindy Watson, who defeated Switzerland's Emmanuelle Gagliardi 3-6 7-5 6-2.
It will be the second Belgian-Australian showdown in the third round. In the other match Henin meets Nicole Pratt, who defeated German Martina Muller 6-1 6-2. Henin beat Marta Marrero of Spain in three sets.
The 1999 finalist and seventh seed, France's Amelie Mauresmo, battled to a 7-5 6-3 win over Slovak Katarina Srebotnik. Mauresmo now plays Thailand's Tamarine Tanasugarn, who defeated Hungarian Petra Mandula 2-6 6-2 6-2. Third-seed Martina Hingis and eighth-seed Monica Seles play their third round matches today.
