LONDON, 29 June 2003 — Fighting-fit veteran Andre Agassi and teenage talent Maria Sharapova, from the opposite ends of the tennis age spectrum, carved winning paths into the second week at the $15.7 million Wimbledon Championships yesterday.
The 33-year-old wonder man Agassi, the second seed aiming to repeat his 1992 title on the lawns, shrugged off an opening setback to impose his game on Morocco’s Younes El Aynaoui 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7- 4), 7-6 (7-4) in three hours 13 minutes.
Siberian-born Sharapova, already making a huge splash at age 16, thrashed another former prodigy as she put out 11th seed Jelena Dokic 6-4, 6-4.
“I played two solid matches, but I knew today I had to go out and execute,” said eight-time Grand Slam winner Agassi. “He’s a talented player who knows how to win — he believes that he can. “You can’t afford to be even the slightest bit off.” The angry El Aynaoui smashed a racket as he missed on a shot deep into the four-set tie-breaker. Two points later, the American icon wrapped up the win, his 44th at the All England Club.
“This match was played to a good standard,” said Agassi. “So much boils down to his serve, but I felt very focused today.”
World No. 1 Agassi now stands 5-0 in the series after beating El Aynaoui three months ago on cement in Miami. Sharapova led a Russian Renaissance as three of her compatriots also advanced into the fourth round.
Tenth seed Anastasia Myskina got by 1994 winner Conchita Martinez of Spain 6-3, 6-3 while No. 15 Elena Dementieva beat Hungarian qualifier Aniko Kapros 6-3, 6-1.
Svetlana Kuznetsova, doubles partner to Martina Navratilova, ousted France’s Emilie Loit 6-1, 6-2. With Vera Zvonareva advancing Friday, five young Russians remain in the chase.
There was another victory for two-time Grand Slam champion Mary Pierce as the 28-year-old, on the comeback trail after several years of injury dramas, defeated American Lisa Raymond 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
Sharapova took her upset win as the most normal thing in the world: “When I come into a tournament, I’m expecting to win,” she said in a perfect Florida accent after spending half of her life in the US.
“I’m very happy and very surprised. I’m 16 and I’m in the fourth round at Wimbledon, how odd is that?”
Sharapova, often noted for habitual near-screams during play, kept the sound level low as she ended the encounter with Dokic — who knocked World No. 1 Martina Hingis out of the first round in 1999 — with her eighth ace.
Top seed Serena Williams rolled over fellow American Laura Granville 6-3, 6-1 while the woman who knocked Williams out of the French Open this month, eventual champion Justine Henin-Hardenne, hammered Australian Alicia Molik 6-4, 6-4.
Jennifer Capriati eased into the fourth round with a comfortable 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Japan’s Akiko Morigami. The eighth-seeded American, looking for her first Wimbledon title, was not at her best and needed treatment on her right shoulder during the first set, but she still had too much power for Morigami. The 27-year-old is without a title this year and struggling to rediscover her best form after undergoing eye surgery at the end of last year. She will face Russian Anastasia Myskina for a place in the quarterfinals.
Mark Philippoussis put on a serving exhibition with 33 aces as he deposited Czech Radek Stepanek on the sidelines 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4, 7-6 (8-6). The Australian winner, who underwent three knee operations in 14 months from late 2000 through March 2002, will next play Agassi. German Alexander Popp, a quarterfinalist three years ago, beat 11th seed Jiri Novak 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3); Belgian Olivier Rochus eliminated Flying Finn Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-1.
