Safina brushes Baltacha aside at Australian Open

 WORLD number two Dinara Safina brought Elena Baltacha's plucky run at the Australian Open to an abrupt halt - bullying the Brit off court in just 57 minutes.

MARCHING ON: Dinara Safina brushes Elena Baltacha aside on the Rod Laver Arena to reach fourth round of Australian Open (Getty Images)

Safina, runner-up in Melbourne last year, produced an awesome display of power and precision to leave Baltacha bemused at the Rod Laver Arena and take her place in the fourth round.

Baltacha, who had previously reached the third round in 2005, had performed admirably in her second-round clash with Kateryna Bondarenko, seeded 30th, using her powerful serve to great effect to upset the Ukrainian.

But Safina, still bidding for her first grand slam title, didn't let the Brit settle into any rhythm, pulling her from pillar to post to complete a routine 6-1, 6-2 victory.

It was Safina's first match at the Rod Laver Arena since her demoralising defeat to Serena Williams in last year's final when the Russian was torn to shreds by the world number one in less than an hour.

But Safina insists she is pleased to be back.

"I'm very happy to be back here even though my last appearance was very difficult for me," said Safina.

"I don't have very good memories of the court from last year but I've had some unbelievable matches here and I'm very pleased with my victory today." 

Safina likes playing the Brits at the major competitions. At the French Open last year she humbled Anne Keothavong 6-0, 6-0 and while there were no bagels dished out at Melbourne Park, Baltacha was left with plenty of food for thought.

The match began ominously for Baltacha, ranked 83rd in the world. An imperious service game from Safina was followed up by a ruthless attack on the British number one's serve as she raced into a 2-0 lead.

Baltacha however, is made of stern stuff. Having breached the top 100 in the world for the first time at the end of last season the 26-year-old is no pushover and she broke back immediately.

But, surprisingly, it was her serve, so key in her victory over Bondarenko that let her down. Safina ruthlessly took advantage, securing another two breaks to ease to the first set in just 36 minutes.

Baltacha held firm at the start of the second - determined to enjoy her fleeting appearance on the showpiece court at Melbourne Park - but it was not long before Safina turned up the heat once again.

A formidable service game to love was swiftly followed by a ruthless break to effectively end any hopes of a Baltacha fightback.

The Ukrainian-born Scot did hold serve again but at 4-2 and 0-30 down she served her fourth double-fault of the match, handing Safina the chance to break again and serve for victory.

And it was a chance which the Russian duly accepted, as Baltacha's quest to reach the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time in her career goes on.

Meanwhile, eighth seed Jelena Jankovic of Serbia was sent packing by Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko - sister of Kateryna - 6-2, 6-3.

It was Alona Bondarenko's first victory over the Serb in ten attempts, having lost their previous nine encounters but it was nonetheless thoroughly deserved as 2008 semi-finalist bwed out with barely a whimper.