• Australian Open, Day Five

Wozniacki keeps maiden slam hopes alive

Caroline Wozniacki has not dropped a set this tournament © Getty Images

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World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki had no troubles progressing to the fourth round of the Australian Open, recording a straight-sets 6-2 6-2 win over Monica Niculescu.

Wozniacki was never headed during the match, as the 2011 semi-finalist made two breaks of her Romanian opponent's serve in the first set. The 21-year-old clocked 23 winners during the match in an impressive display of stroke-making from the back of the court.

However, Niculescu made Wozniacki work for the win until the very end, breaking as Wozniacki served for the match at 5-1. It proved to be nothing more than a brief setback, though, as Wozniacki broke back immediately, booking her place in round four with a sizzling backhand winner.

In her quest for a first grand slam title, Wozniacki will now take on Jelena Jankovic who breezed past Christina McHale. The 13th seed booked her place in the fourth round with a comfortable 6-2 6-0 victory, with McHale's 25 unforced errors proving costly.

Defending champion Kim Clijsters remains the woman to beat after she again turned in a dominant display to beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-3 6-2. Clijsters was flawless at the net and only committed 18 unforced errors en route to an easy win, and she will now face Li Na, who led 3-0 in the first set when Anabel Medina Garrigues retired injured.

Victoria Azarenka also enjoyed a routine passage into round four. The third seed overcame a late fightback from Germany's Mona Barthel to record a 6-2 6-4 triumph.

Azarenka appeared bound to wrap up the match in rapid fashion after a brilliant first set saw her take control. But the 22-year-old was forced to save a break point while serving for the match in the 10th game of the second before squeezing through on her fifth match point.

It was something of a controversial finish to the match as the Belarussian had run out of challenges and was left fuming after a forehand was called wide on her third match point. Azarenka's anger grew when Barthel's forehand return on the next point was called in when it appeared wide.

Agnieszka Radwanska was another comfortable winner on day five. She cruised past Galina Voskoboeva in 66 minutes to set up a showdown with 22nd seed Julia Goerges, who got the better of Romina Oprandi.

Elsewhere, Iveta Benesova made extremely light work of Nina Bratchikova, winning 6-1 6-3.

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