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Women's favorites roll in Australian Open

Kim Clijsters, shown in last year's French Open, claimed a third-round win Friday at the Australian Open and will next play Li Na, the woman she beat in the 2011 Australian Open final. UPI/David Silpa
Kim Clijsters, shown in last year's French Open, claimed a third-round win Friday at the Australian Open and will next play Li Na, the woman she beat in the 2011 Australian Open final. UPI/David Silpa | License Photo

MELBOURNE, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and every women's favorite won -- all but two in two sets -- Friday and advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open.

Wozniacki lost her serve twice but also had six breaks in eight receiving games in a 6-2, 6-2 win over No. 31-seeded Monica Niculescu. Even with the two dropped games, Wozniacki took 63 percent of the points on serve.

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No. 11-seed Kim Clijsters, the defending champion, was a 6-3, 6-2 winner over 20th-seeded Daniela Hantuchova behind five breaks, setting up a rematch with her finals opponent last year, Li Na.

Li was up 3-0 when 26th-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues retired with an ankle injury.

Clijsters beat Li 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in last year's title match.

Third-seeded Victoria Azarenka didn't drop serve in a 6-2, 6-4 win over Mona Barthel and will go against the last unseeded player remaining in the top of the women's draw, Iveta Benesova. Benesova defeated qualifier Nina Bratchikova 6-1, 6-3 in her third-round match.

Agnieszka Radwanska, the eighth seed, topped Galina Voskoboeva 6-2, 6-2 in 66 minutes and will face No. 22-seeded Julia Goerges in the next round. Goerges had the lone three-set match Friday, rallying for a 3-6 6-3, 6-1 victory over Romina Oprandi.

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No. 13-seeded Jelena Jankovic picked her third consecutive straight-set win, ousting Christina McHale 6-2, 6-0. Jankovic lost just nine points -- three off McHale's serve -- in the second set. She draws Wozniacki in the fourth round. Jankovic owns a 4-3 series edge over Wozniacki but Wozniacki had won the last three meetings.

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