World number one Caroline Wozniacki stepped up her Australian Open campaign with a commanding victory over Romanian Monica Niculescu to reach the last 16.
Wozniacki saw off the 31st seed 6-2 6-2 with her most aggressive display so far to set up a meeting with Jelena Jankovic or Christina McHale. She is joined in the four round by third seed Victoria Azarenka, a 6-2 6-4 winner against Mona Barthel of Germany. Defending champion Kim Clijsters plays Daniela Hantuchova later on day five. Wozniacki also negotiated her first two matches in straight sets, but she played with greater authority and variety against Niculescu. The Dane broke serve in games two and seven of a 36-minute opening set and races into a 5-1 lead in the second. Niculescu used her unusual sliced forehand to prevent her opponent serving out the match, but Wozniacki hit straight back to seal her triumph.
Rafael Nadal showed glimpses of his very best form to make round four of the Australian Open with a crushing win against Slovak qualifier Lukas Lacko. Nadal won 6-2 6-4 6-2 in an hour and 55 minutes and the world number two next plays John Isner or Feliciano Lopez. Roger Federer was no less impressive in a hard-fought 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 6-3 victory over Ivo Karlovic and he will face Alexandr Dolgopolov or Bernard Tomic.
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