By Chris Davies
January 24 2004

Lisa Raymond who has never beaten the former world number one Venus Williams caused the biggest shock of the Australian Open so far. Ramyond, seeded 25 had not even taken a set off Venus before never mind beaten her. This time was expected to go the same way but went totally the opposite with the double specialist winning 6-4, 7-5 (7-5).

Williams served 14 aces and managed 40 winners but also committed 44 unforced errors. She found herself a break down in the second set but fought back to a tie-break unable to take it into a 3 set.

Tatiana Golovin will be Raymonds next opponent when she carried her impressive run claiming another victim. Lina Krasnoroutskaya was the victim this time round losing 6-2, 7-6.

The French youngster who only turns 16 on Sunday looks to be a huge impact on the WTA tour in years to come.

Russia had the chance of having 4 women in the 4th round in the bottom of the draw but that was chopped down to one.

Anastasia Myskina played the newcomer Maria Sharapova in a three set battle with the 6th seed winning through 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.

Elena Likhovtseva and Dianara Safina were the other 2 that could have advanced but lost in easy fashion.

Likhovtseva got pounded by Chanda Rubin 6-3, 6-2 and Safina, Marat Safins sister, lost to Kim Clijsters 6-2, 6-1.

Clijsters who now has a huge chance to win her first Slam with the exit of Venus Williams should comfortably reach the final. But all depending on how much of a test she will get against Silvia Farina Elia who ousted Amy Frazier 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.