Australian Open 2014, Day 6: Federer, Sharapova and Radwanska Book Fourth Round Spot

For the last two days, soaring temperatures have not played the villain while players on the court are letting their action talk as we enter the sixth day of the Australian Open 2014.

Switzerland's maestro Roger Federer was in action against Russia's Teymuraz Gabashivili in the third round on day six in the men's singles competition.

Maria Sharapova booked her place in the fourth round after a hard-fought victory against Alize Cornet. Earlier, Sharapova emerged victorious against Karin Knapp in round two in a match that lasted nearly three and a half hours on day four of the tournament.

Results

Men's Singles

Federer had no trouble in sending Gabashivili packing as the 17-time Grand Slam winner emerged victorious in 101 minutes. The former world number one defeated the Russian in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in the third round.

Women's Singles

Sharapova did not allow Cornet to stand a chance in the first set to win 6-1. But the Frenchwoman fought back in the second set and tested Sharapova to her limits as the second set lasted 79 minutes. However, the 26-year-old resisted the fight-back to win the second set 7-6 in order to progress to the next round.

She will now face Dominika Cibulkova in the next round, who eased past Carla Suarez Navarro in straight sets winning, 6-1,6-0 in the other third round clash.

Eighth seed Jelena Jankovic got the better of Kurumi Nara after a battle lasting nearly 100 minutes to win, 6-4, 7-5 in round three. The Serbian will now face Simona Halep in the next round as the Romanian brushed aside Zarina Diyas, 6-1, 6-4.

Agnieszka Radwanska bounced from a first set defeat against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. The Russian managed to cause an upset in the first set but failed to replicate her form in the following sets.

Meanwhie, Radwanska's fourth round opponent willl be Garbine Muguruza, who was up against tenth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki in the third round. The Spaniard pulled off an upset to emerge victorious against the former women's world number one to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Men's Doubles

In the Men's Doubles competition, Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi suffered a first set defeat against Britain's Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins in the second round. But the Indo-Pak duo responded strongly to win the game, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

They will now face Treat Huey of Phillipines and Dominic Inglot of Great Britain in the third round having achieved victory against Italians Andreas Seppi and Potito Starace, 6-3, 7-6, 6-1.

Meanwhile, Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek enjoyed a comfortable win against Daniele Bracciali and Alexandr Dolgopolov winning back-to-back sets, 6-1, 6-4.

The 2013 US Open winners will now face India's Yuki Bhambri and New Zealand's Michael Venus in the third round.

Bhambri and Venus won against 10<sup>th seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau, 6-4, 6-4 in the previous round.

Women's Doubles

Sania Mirza and Cara Black brushed aside Monica Niculescu and Klara Zakopalova in straight sets to win, 7-5, 6-1 in round two.

They are now pitted against Eugenie Bouchard and Vera Dushevina in the third round as the former duo won against 11<sup>th seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, 6-4, 7-5.