Mauresmo crushes Poutchkova to reach third round

MELBOURNE, Jan 17 (Reuters) France's Amelie Mauresmo took another confident step in the defence of her Australian Open crown when she swept aside Russian teenager Olga Poutchkova 6-2 6-2 today.

The second seed looked below her best and was a break down at 2-1 in the second, but recovered to book her place in round three after 72 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Mauresmo broke three times in the first set against the 19-year-old, clinching the opener in 37 minutes before Poutchkova threatened a comeback with her early break in the second.

The Wimbledon champion broke back immediately, reeling off five games in a row to progress to round three where she will face the Czech Republic's world number 83 Eva Birnerova.

REUTERS SAM VC1705