Aussie Open Goes International Tennis Talent From Around The World Gives Tournament A Worldly Appeal

Fans waved flags from around the world as a United Nations of players marched into the round of 16 today in the Australian Open.

From American Venus Williams to Zimbabwean Byron Black among the day’s winners, Grand Slam contenders are emerging from more countries than ever in tennis, the most international of major sports.

Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn pulled off the biggest upset so far as she blew away French Open champion and No. 4 seed Iva Majoli of Croatia 6-0, 6-2. A 20-year-old ranked No. 44, Tanasugarn is playing only her fifth major event and had never gone past the third round.

Players from 19 countries were seeded at the start of the year’s first major event. Going into the third round, players from 14 countries remained in the men’s draw and 21 in the women’s draw. Morocco had as many players left as Sweden.

Defending champion Pete Sampras stayed on course to capture his 11th major title as he cruised past Sweden’s Magnus Gustafsson 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

Resurgent Czech Petr Korda, the No. 6 seed who knocked Sampras out of the U.S. Open, did three scissors kicks to celebrate his 30th birthday - “I couldn’t do 30 because I would die,” he said - after he moved ahead with a 6-2, 7-6 (8), 6-2 victory over American Vince Spadea.

Cedric Pioline, one of 10 French players to start the day, advanced with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Spain’s 11th-seeded Alex Corretja.

Moroccan Hicham Arazi, who bumped out big-serving, 15th-seeded Australian Mark Philippoussis in a five-setter in the second round, survived another long match in a 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Spain’s Francisco Clavet.

Unseeded Slovak Karol Kucera, winner of the Sydney tuneup last week, kept going with a 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-1 victory over Canadian Daniel Nestor. And the Zimbabwean Black won easily against American qualifier Steve Campbell, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2.

U.S. Open finalist Venus Williams, fresh from her victory over sister Serena, reached the fourth round with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph over France’s Amielie Mauresmo in the first Australian Open for both.

Andre Agassi defeated Albert Costa in four sets Thursday night.