Melbourne: Roger Federer stepped up his relentless march to another AustralianOpen title today (Jan 17, 2007), sweeping into the third round alongside women sthird seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The world number one blasted veteran Swede Jonas Bjorkman 6-2,6-3,6-2 in just95 minutes as he chases his third Australian crown and 10th Grand Slam.

The defending champion moved up a gear from his opening round win over GermanBjorn Phau and was never under threat against the 50th-ranked Bjorkman.

It extended his unbeaten streak to 30 matches and he is closing in on hispersonal best unbeaten run of 35 matches set in 2005.

"I think I was pretty much in control of the match today," said theSwiss maestro.

"I started well and I felt like if I got my serve going, it s going to betough for Jonas. That s a little bit what happened. I think it was a good matchfrom my side. I didn t give him so many chances like I did against Phau in thefirst round. I think it s a bit of an improvement," he said.

Federer will next play Russian 25th seed Mikhail Youzhny.

Kuznetsova, a former US Open champion, has never been beyond the quarter-finalhere in five attempts but looked in imposing form against Australian wildcardMonique Adamczak, winning 6-2,6-1.

The Russian, who pulled out of the Sydney International last week withrespiratory problems, could be heard repeatedly coughing during her match here,but said she was feeling better.

"I think it sounds worse than I feel. Last week I was really feelinghorrible, but this week I felt better every day," said the 21-year-oldfrom St. Petersburg.

She will meet compatriot Maria Kirilenko in the next round with a possiblequarter-final with seven-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.

Williams, unseeded here after an injury-plagued 2006,still believes she haswhat it takes to win a third Australian crown and continues her mission againstAnne Kremer of Luxembourg.Kuznetsova was joined in the third round by fifth seed Nadia Petrova, whocruised past Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-1,6-2.

Also through is Serbian 11th seed Jelena Jankovic, who lost to Kim Clijsters inthe Sydneyfinal last Friday. Jankovic was in a different league to Spain s Virginia Ruano Pascal andwon 6-2,6-2.

China s Li Na, seeded 19 andAsia s top player, sailed past Elena Bovina of Russia 6-4,6-3 in a first roundmatch postponed from Tuesday after searing heat caused a backlog.Eighth seed Patty Schnyder also safely won her opener.

Cloud cover kept the temperatures in check Wednesday and the dozen postponedfirst round women s matches were quickly completed.

Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo, who says she is more relaxed here this yearthan ever before, has a matchup with Olga Poutchkova as she works towards apossible quarter-final showdown with seventh Elena Dementieva.

Andy Roddick, who beat Federer in the Kooyong Classic final at the weekend, hasa second round encounter with Marc Gicquel of France while last year s finalistMarcos Baghdatis takes on Gael Monfils, also of France.

Russia s Marat Safin, seeded26 but always a threat after winning here in 2005,plays Israel s DudiSela.

Serbia s 14th seed NovakDjokovic, tipped by Federer to make his breakthrough this season, dismissedFeliciano Lopez of Spain6-2,7-5,6-1 to join the Swiss in the third round.