Russians suffer bad day at the office

MELBOURNE, Jan 21 (Reuters) A drizzly Melbourne Park proved to be an inhospitable place for the Russians today In the only grand slam event to have eluded the Russian women so far, their chances of gaining the breakthrough in 2007 were significantly lowered.

One by one they trudged out on court as the favourite to win their matches against lower-ranked opposition. Within a space of three hours Svetlana Kuznetsova, Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina had exited the Australian Open with their tails firmly between their legs.

Third seed Kuznetsova was the most notable casualty when she was felled 6-4 6-2 by Israeli 16th seed Shahar Peer.

Seventh seed Dementieva followed suit after her shortcomings in the serving department was painfully exploited by Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova for a 6-3 6-3 defeat.

Marat Safin's younger sister Dinara also caught the losing bug and was handed a 6-2 6-2 drubbing by China's Li Na in a rain-delayed third-round encounter.

''Match by match I was feeling more and more confident but it was a mental thing today, I wasn't 100 percent there in my mind,'' said Kuznetsova, who has dropped just 10 games in the first three rounds.

''I wanted the win too badly.'' The bottom half of the draw had featured nine Russians and by day seven of the grand slam, none were left standing.

STICKING POINT In the top half of the field, things are not so desperate, with top seed Maria Sharapova, Vera Zvonareva and 12th seed Anna Chakvetadze still in the frame for the title.

But with U.S. Open champion Sharapova and Zvonareva facing off in the last 16, at least one of them will perish before the quarter-finals.

Australia has always seemed to be a sticking point for the Russians. Anastasia Myskina, Sharapova and Kuznetsova swept all before them to triumph at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows respectively during an historic 2004.

In Melbourne, no women from the nation has managed to even get to the final.

Kuznetsova blamed the difficult conditions for Sunday's results.

''It was hard conditions here because you have roof open, roof closed, rain... I'm not making any excuses because I did play a ridiculous match.'' With only three left standing from the 18 Russians who turned up at the season's first major, the hopes of winning an elusive Australian Open title will rest firmly on Sharapova's shoulders.

Kuznetsova believes it will only be a matter of time before the Open trophy also falls into Russian hands.

''I feel very comfortable on this surface and see a good chance to do well in the future. Maria is still in the draw and she can do well this year,'' the 21-year-old added.

REUTERS SAM VC1545