By DPA
Melbourne : Women’s top seed Justine Henin of Belgium and Czech Republic’s 12th ranked Nicole Vaidisova, secured straight-set wins earning the first two spots in the Australian Open fourth round Friday here Friday.
Henin, playing the event for the first time since quitting the 2006 final injured against the France’s Amelie Mauresmo, improved her record to 7-0 over Italy’s Francesca Schiavone. The Belgian, tipped a favourite to win the first Grand Slam of the year, advanced 7-5, 6-4 in one and three-quarter hours against London-based Schiavone.
Henin overcame 27 unforced errors, breaking on five of seven occasions while losing her own serve three times.
Vaidisova finished with a screaming down-the-line winner on match point to put out Japan’s Ai Sugiyama 6-3, 6-4.