Melbourne, Australia — Marcelo Rios flustered Alberto Martin with a behind-the-back service return, a crucial underhand volley and steady play today in the third round of the Australian Open. Rios, the former top-ranked player who had not reached a Grand Slam tournament's round of 16 since the 1999 U.S. Open, kept Martin on the run in a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (3) victory.
Roger Federer, seeded 11th but now the No. 5 player in the field after a rash of early injuries and surprises, defeated Germany's Rainer Schuettler 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 6-4.
In women's play, No. 4 Kim Clijsters, last year's French Open runner-up, beat Australian wild-card entry Cindy Watson 6-1, 6-2.
Germany's Marlene Weingartner, who never before had gone beyond the third round of a Grand Slam event, advanced to the fourth round by defeating No. 10 Meghann Shaughnessy 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
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