Former world number one Kim Clijsters took 59 minutes to beat Vera Douchevina 7-5 6-0 in the Hastings Direct International Women’s Championship at Eastbourne.

Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova survived a major scare before setting up an Australian Open showdown with Svetlana Kuznetsova.

It was left to 48-year-old Martina Navratilova to inject a much needed hint of controversy on an otherwise predictable fifth day of the Australian Open.

Amelie Mauresmo today became the first woman to book her place in the fourth round of the Australian Open.