Tennis: Sharapova in surprise lefty move

Maria Sharapova unveiled a new weapon in her comprehensive 6-0, 6-1 third round thrashing of Jelena Kostanic yesterday, hoping that it would help propel the fourth seed all the way to a first Australian Open tennis title.

The Russian teenager already boasts a full repertoire of shots, including a devastating serve, but has added a surprise tactic.

Although she plays right-handed, Sharapova caught Croatia's Kostanic completely by surprise when she briefly switched to her left hand.

Sharapova later revealed that she was natural left-hander but changed sides when she was 11 years old, although she sometimes practiced left-handed. "I write with my right hand, but I throw and I kick with my left hand and my left foot," she said.

"When I was younger, I played a little bit more lefty. I actually was at a point I didn't know if I was going to play lefty or righty or both hands.

"I do practice it once in a while just to kind of balance it off.

"If I feel comfortable enough to hit a lefty, I feel like I'm in the right position to do it, I'm confident that I can make it."

Sharapova had few problems beating Kostanic, a former Australian Open junior champion, to book her place in the fourth round and a possible clash against defending champion Serena Williams.

Kostanic won just 14 points in the opening set and while she managed to avoid the dreaded "double bagel" (6-0, 6-0) by holding her opening service game in the second set, Sharapova reeled off the next five games to complete a comfortable victory.

"I wouldn't say that was really easy," Sharapova said.

"Mentally it was pretty tough when you know you've got a very patient opponent and you know that it's really hot out there."

Sharapova blew three match points against Williams last year but said she was ready to avenge that loss this time.

"I was disappointed last year ... but I'm going to get my revenge," she said.

Meanwhile, top seed Lindsay Davenport survived a tough match and extreme heat to beat Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the third round.

Both players struggled with their serve in the first two sets with Davenport snatching two breaks in the first, and Kirilenko managing the same in the second, to send the game into a decider.

Davenport will meet 14th-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 US Open champion, in the fourth round.

Sixth seed Nadia Petrova thrashed feisty Italian Maria Elena Camerin 6-1, 6-2 to join fellow Russian Elena Vesnina in the next round, following her 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win over Olga Savchuk.

Kuznetsova crushed Italian Mara Santangelo 6-3, 6-1.

Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium, the tournament favourite, defeated Virginie Razzano of France 6-4, 6-1. 


Mel-burn temperatures

Australian Open organisers invoked the tournament's extreme heat rule and postponed matches on outside courts as temperatures reached 40C yesterday.

Tournament rules allow for matches on outside courts to be suspended if the temperature reaches 35C, although matches under way must be completed.

The third-round match between 10th seed Thomas Johansson, the 2002 champion, and Frenchman Gilles Simon was just about to begin when the rule was invoked.

Play on Vodafone Arena, one of Melbourne Park's two main covered, air-conditioned courts, was also delayed slightly while its roof was closed before the start of the match between eighth seed Justine Henin-Hardenne and Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano.

Top seed Lindsay Davenport's match against Russian Maria Kirilenko had already started when the rule was invoked.

- REUTERS