Monday, 31 March, 2008

Lindsay Davenport produced an impressive display to inflict a 6-4 6-2 defeat on second seed Ana Ivanovic in the third round of Sony Ericsson Open.

Davenport needed just 76 minutes to dispatch Ivanovic, the world number two, in the first career meeting between the two.

"I was really excited to play someone at the top - someone that I hadn't played before, and someone kind of up and coming," said Davenport. "She's been around for a few years, but obviously she's young and very good."

Davenport will next face 13th-seeded Russian Dinara Safina, a 4-6 6-1 6-0 winner over Sybille Bammer of Austria, while Justine Henin cruised into the fourth round with a 6-2 6-1 rout of Italian Sara Errani. The top-seeded Belgian will face Elena Vesnina of Russia.

Third-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 1-6 7-5 6-0.

In the fourth round, Kuznetsova will face Shahar Peer of Israel, a 6-0 6-2 winner over Portugal's Michelle Larcherde Brito.

Serena Williams overcame a shaky start to beat Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 6-2 in a rain-delayed match.

Murray shrugs off rankings slide
Nadal too strong for Kiefer
Davenport stuns Ivanovic in Miami
Poor service proves Murray's downfall
New Wimbledon deal for BBC
Djokovic reels in Fish