Kvitova, Sharapova show Grand Slam pedigrees with quick wins

Jan 21, 2012, 3:32 GMT

Melbourne - Grand Slam champions Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova wasted little effort as the seeded pair blasted into spots in the fourth round of the Australian open on a sold-out Saturday, losing just four games between them. It was all one-way traffic for current Wimbledon holder Kvitova as the Czech crushed Maria Kirilenko, 6-1, 1-0, with her injured Russian opponent retiring after just 38 minutes with a thigh strain.

Sharapova, the fourth seed who won Wimbledon in 2004 and Australia four years later, was equally stern with German Angelique Kerber in a 6-1, 6-2 victory.

As Kirilenko took treatment on her problem prior to retiring, Kvitova buried her head in her towel for some extra concentration in the third-round contest which ensured her of a place in the tournament's second week.

'I just told myself to play the same way as before and go for the balls and don't make many mistakes and just be focused,' said the Czech second seed. 'Sometimes the timeout is very tough for us. 'When you are playing really well and then you have five minutes off, sometimes it's tough to get back and play as before.'

Sharapova was on and off court in just under 90 minutes after fighting through a second set lasting nearly one hour.

The treble Grand Slam champion Russian struck 34 winners and broke Kerber on six of nine chances and will next play either German 14th seed Sabine Lisicki or Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Italy's number 48 Sara Errani will play the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career after staging a comeback over Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-7 (6-8), 6-0, 6-2.

In the men's third round, 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga continued a comfortable progression through the draw as he put out Frederico Gil of Portugal 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.