Henin breezes through

Top seed Justine Henin powered into the last 16 of the US Open as she opened third-round play at Arthur Ashe Stadium with an easy victory over Russian qualifier Ekaterina Makarova.

The three-time reigning French Open champion from Belgium clinically dispatched Makarova in just 50 minutes in a resounding 6-0 6-2 win. Henin wrapped up the first set in 18 minutes against a clearly nervous Makarova, who had upset Ai Sugiyama in the second round.

By the time the Russian managed to gain a little composure it was too late to halt the Henin charge. Makarova got a big cheer in the fourth game of the second set when she sent a forehand down the line that was too good for Henin and delivered her first game of the match at 3-1.

She managed to hold her serve again but not a third time. Makarova went 0-40 down and showed spirit to get back to deuce but Henin was not going to be denied, securing victory on a double fault.

Henin will now face 15th seed Dinara Safina in the fourth round following the Russian's 6-4 6-3 win over unseeded American Ahsha Rolle.

Australian Open champion and eighth seed Serena Williams, a two-time winner here, overcame number 27 seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia in the final day match on Ashe, needing a tie-breaker to get past the winning post in a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory.

Williams, who looked shaky at times in her second-round win over Italian Maria Elena Camerin, will play 10th-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli who came from behind to beat Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 4-6 6-2 6-3.

French qualifier Alize Cornet took the opening set from third seed Jelena Jankovic but could not capitalise on that good platform as the Serbian roared back to win 4-6 6-2 6-3.

Jankovic, a semi-finalist here in 2006, now plays Sybille Bammer of Austria, who upset the seedings with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Elena Dementieva of Russia.

Ana Ivanovic was impressive in getting past Vera Dushevina of Russia, winning 6-1 6-3.