Mauresmo breezes into last 16

MELBOURNE, Jan 19 (Reuters) Second seed Amelie Mauresmo stayed on course to defend her Australian Open title with a 6-3 6-1 win over Czech Eva Birnerova in the third round today.

The 27-year-old Frenchwoman, who won her maiden grand slam title at Melbourne Park 12 months ago, had too many attacking weapons for the world number 83 to handle and sealed victory in 62 minutes.

Mauresmo will play unseeded Czech Lucie Safarova or Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus in the last 16.

Reuters AY VP1045