Kafelnikov adds to his cash cache with win into quarterfinals

The money-mad, fifth-seeded Russian, the 1999 champion and finalist here last year, guaranteed himself a minimum singles payday of 106,000 dollars with the fourth-round win over the Scandinavian hope, one of two Swedes along with fourth see Magnus Norman left in the field. Kafelnikov's life has been getting progressively easier as he mows down his opposition match after match on the Rebound Ace.

Against Vinciguerra, the 26-year-old Russian won 25 points on 28 times at the net and converted seven of his 17 break point opportunities. The Russian now stands 17-1 at the venue since his trophy in 1999. "I probably could say I am playing well," said Kafelnikov, who complained last week that tennis players are poorly paid compared with golfers. "But how well - we'll find out in eight, nine days, or maybe in two days. "Who knows? But I can't complain about my performance." Flamboyant Frenchman Arnaud Clement, the 15th seed who never plays without a bandana around his head and wraparound prescription sunglasses on his nose - wiping them down after every single point - ended the run of Brit Greg Rusedski 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.

"In Adelaide and Sydney, I didn't play good tennis. Now I'm playing better and better. I haven't played a seed yet, and I'm seeded. So it's normal that I won," he said. The 1997 finalist and former world number 1 Carlos Moya of Spain showed that he's well and truly back in a fourth-round 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-4 win over German Rainer Schuettler which lasted well over three hours. Moya next faces the winner of night-time contest between fourth seed Magnus Norman and Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean. Moya hit a low point in 1999 and 2000 when he was dealing with back problems. But those seem to be gone now as he starts a new year. "Coming in, I knew I was hitting the ball well," he said. "My feeling was great because I've been practising very hard the whole winter. I came here, saw the draw and thought, Okay, maybe this is not my Australian Open. Maybe next year will be a better one."

"But inside, I was thinking if I'm able to play good tennis, I was gonna get through it. And that's what happening now. But after I beat (Chile's Marcelo) Rios and Lleyton Hewitt at the weekend, I got so much confidence. And now I know I'm playing well." Multiple women's champion Martina Hingis opened Week 2 of the Grand Slam with another easy win, crushing Italian Rita Grande 6-0, 6-3. Hingis, 20 and ranked number 1 in the world, was untroubled by the Italian, against whom she's now 2-0 after a minimal 46-minute effort. Grande, 25, claimed a first career title last week in Tasmania, but found her run at Melbourne Park for this edition all over in the fourth round at the hands of the all-conquering Swiss, now 12-0 this year. "This was good preparation for the week," said Hingis. "Hopefully, you get a few easy rounds before the tough matches. That's the way I like it."

Hingis dispatched Grande with the Italian winning just 10 points during Hingis' service games. Hingis won the Hopman Cup teams event with compatriot Roger Federer to start the year, then claimed the title last week in Sydney. She has dropped a total of 12 games in four matches so far here. Sixth seed Serena Williams defeated Czech newcomer Deja Bedanova 6-2, 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal against Hingis, who beat her at the same stage in Sydney this month.

Williams produced 29 winners and eight aces. Tenth seeded South African Amanda Coetzer ousted Argentine Paola Suarez 6-1, 6-4.

(dpa)