Henin-Hardenne eases through

French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne put her hand injury to the back of her mind as she eased through to the last 16 of the women’s singles.

The 20-year-old third seed posted a 6-4 6-4 victory over Australian Alicia Molik to set up a fourth-round meeting with veteran Mary Pierce.

Jelena Dokic was the biggest casualty of the women’s third round today, going out to 16-year-old Russian sensation Maria Sharapova, while Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati and Anastasia Myskina all secured places in the second week of the Championships.

The last 16 includes no fewer than five Russians, with Sharapova taking on compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova, to ensure Russian representation in the quarter-finals.

Henin-Hardenne has yet to drop a set and she took just 64 minutes to complete a third victory over Molik, who dropped her serve in the fifth game of each set.

“I’m pretty happy with the way I played,” said the Belgian.

“It was a tough test for me because she served so well. I’m very happy that I finally found my game today.

“My hand is not getting better but it’s no worse. I fell down again today and it was getting more painful but I just try to stayed focussed on my tennis. I don’t think too much about it.

“I’m getting used to playing with the tape and I don’t think it is going to be a problem.”

Pierce, 28, rolled back the years with a 4-6 6-3 7-5 win over American Lisa Raymond, the number 24 seed, to reach the fourth round for the first time since 1999.

Former champion Conchita Martinez, the 18th seed, bowed out to Myskina, who is in the last 16 for the first time, while another Russian, Elena Dementieva, romped to an easy win over Hungarian qualifier Aniko Kapros.

Dementieva had lost just five games in her first two matches and conceded four more today to book a first-ever clash with top seed and defending champion Serena Williams.

Capriati, who reached the semi-finals as far back as 1991, overcame Akiko Morigami, of Japan, 6-4 6-4, and meets Russian number one Myskina next up.