MELBOURNE, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Tennis great Roger Federer said he was saddened by American cyclist Lance Armstrong’s admission that he cheated his way to seven Tour de France wins and believed it would have a negative impact on all sport.

Armstrong confessed in a televised interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey this week to using banned performance-enhancing substances to establish himself as one of the biggest names in sport.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Juan Martin del Potro suffered the first real upset and Victoria Azarenka had a big scare, but Serena Williams and Andy Murray eased through challenging ties to reach the last 16 of the Australian Open on Saturday.

After five days at the year’s first grand slam without any major shocks, two came along within minutes as Jeremy Chardy downed Argentine sixth seed Del Potro and Andreas Seppi showed 12th seed Marin Cilic the door at Melbourne Park.

MELBOURNE, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Juan Martin del Potro suffered the first real upset and Victoria Azarenka had a big scare, but Serena Williams and Andy Murray eased through challenging ties to reach the last 16 of the Australian Open on Saturday.

After five days at the year’s first grand slam without any major shocks, two came along within minutes as Jeremy Chardy downed Argentine sixth seed Del Potro and Andreas Seppi showed 12th seed Marin Cilic the door at Melbourne Park.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – A welcome wind blew away the stifling heat at Melbourne Park on Friday but there was no diverting Novak Djokovic or Maria Sharapova from their paths to the last 16 of the Australian Open on day five of the tournament.

Djokovic remained on course for his third straight title as he marched into the fourth round without giving up a set after successfully negotiating a tricky tie against Radek Stepanek with a 6-4 6-3 7-5 win.

MELBOURNE, Jan 18 (Reuters) – A welcome wind blew away the stifling heat at Melbourne Park on Friday but there was no diverting Novak Djokovic or Maria Sharapova from their paths to the last 16 of the Australian Open on day five of the tournament.

Djokovic remained on course for his third straight title as he marched into the fourth round without giving up a set after successfully negotiating a tricky tie against Radek Stepanek with a 6-4 6-3 7-5 win.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – A welcome wind blew away the stifling heat at Melbourne Park on Friday but there was no diverting Novak Djokovic from his path to a third straight Australian Open title as he marched into the fourth round without giving up a set.

Playing with the roof closed on Rod Laver Arena because of a few drops of rain that accompanied the cooler weather, Djokovic’s 6-4 6-3 7-5 victory over Radek Stepanek was by no means a cakewalk, however.

MELBOURNE, Jan 18 (Reuters) – A welcome wind blew away the stifling heat at Melbourne Park on Friday but there was no diverting Novak Djokovic from his path to a third straight Australian Open title as he marched into the fourth round without giving up a set.

Playing with the roof closed on Rod Laver Arena because of a few drops of rain that accompanied the cooler weather, Djokovic’s 6-4 6-3 7-5 victory over Radek Stepanek was by no means a cakewalk, however.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Andy Murray and Serena Williams steamrollered into the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday as sweltering heat at Melbourne Park failed to prove a leveler on day four of the year’s first grand slam.

Suncream, hats and icepacks were the order of the day and spectators cooled off under misting fans as the temperature hit the 40 degrees Celsius mark in late afternoon.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Kimiko Date-Krumm’s former rivals call her crazy but the 42-year-old Japanese, who reached the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday, is intent on playing on until her body gives up on her completely.

Date-Krumm made her Melbourne Park debut 23 years ago and became the oldest woman to win a match at the grand slam tournament with her first round victory over 12th seed Nadia Petrova on Tuesday.

MELBOURNE, Jan 17 (Reuters) – Kimiko Date-Krumm’s former rivals call her crazy but the 42-year-old Japanese, who reached the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday, is intent on playing on until her body gives up on her completely.

Date-Krumm made her Melbourne Park debut 23 years ago and became the oldest woman to win a match at the grand slam tournament with her first round victory over 12th seed Nadia Petrova on Tuesday.