SYDNEY—The Sydney International's Russian pair Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina cruising into the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The pair are both in the last eight after convincing straight-set victories at Sydney Olympic Park.
Dementieva, who now boasts a 6-0 record in 2009, was too strong for world No.95 Slovakian Jarmila Gajdosova, winning 6-2 6-4 in just one hour and 16 minutes.
The dual grand slam finalist said she was hopeful her good form could suggest she's ready to break her major duck at next week's Australian Open.
"I feel it's going to be a tough competition. There are a lot of good players out there, and it's going (to be) tough," Dementieva said.
"I just want to try my best, you know? I feel good so far, so we'll see how far I can go there."
Dementieva began her year in New Zealand, winning the ASB Classic in Auckland, and said she had no worries about a possible long run in Sydney ahead of next week's Open.
"I think it's very important to play a couple tournaments before the grand slam just to get used to the game and get good confidence," she said.
"It was a long off-season, so you always want to play a competition after such a long break."
One thing Dementieva doesn't need though is the anticipated hot finish to this week's tournament in Sydney and then in Melbourne for the start of the Open.
The Russian said acclimatising to Australian summer temperatures was always a challenge.
"I heard it's going to be extremely hot in Melbourne and going to be hot all the way here," she said.
"I don't know if you can really get used to the heat.
"You're just trying to play as quick as possible and get away from the court."
Dementieva, one of the best players on tour yet to win a grand slam, will now meet sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarters after the Pole defeated Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova 6-3 7-5.
But it was third seed Safina who caught the eye of most observers putting on a composed display against another Russian, Vera Dushevina, winning 6-3 6-0 in just over an hour.
The 22-year-old was ruthless against the qualifier, breaking Dushevina's serve five times in the dominant win.
Safina, who has followed her good form at the Hopman Cup with more imperious tennis here, will meet Alize Cornet in the last eight after the French youngster defeated Alisa Kleybanova in straight sets.
American superstar Serena Williams also had a comfortable day as she cruised past Italy's Sara Errani on Ken Rosewall Arena.
Williams smashed nine aces as she raced to a 6-1 6-2 win in less than an hour against Casey Dellacqua's first round conqueror.
The world No.2 will now play Danish eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki, who beat British qualifier Melanie South 6-2 6-0.
The remaining quarter-final will be between last year's runner-up and fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama.
Kuznetsova defeated Estonia's Kaia Kanepi in three sets, while Sugiyama beat Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues.
All of the quarter-finals will be played on Wednesday.
Results from Sydney International
Men-Round 1
Chris Guccione (AUS) bt 6-Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-3 6-4.
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA) 5-7 6-2 6-4.
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) bt 8-Mardy Fish (USA) 6-4 3-6 6-4.
Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) bt Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-2 2-6 6-3.
Women-Round 2
Alize Cornet (FRA) bt Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 7-6(5) 6-1.
5-Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) bt Kaia Kanepi (EST) 6-2 2-6 7-6(3).
Ai Sugiyama (JPN) bt Anabel Medina (ESP) 2-6 6-1 6-2.
1-Serena Williams (USA) bt Sara Errani (ITA) 6-1 6-2.
2-Dinara Safina (RUS) bt Vera Dushevina (RUS) 6-3 6-0.
6-Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) bt Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 6-3 7-5.
3-Elena Dementieva (RUS) bt Jarmila Gajdosova (SVK) 6-2 6-4.
8-Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) bt Melanie South (GBR) 6-2 6-0.
