China's Zheng Jie celebrates her victory over Marion Bartoli of France in the third round of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 21st, 2012. [Photo: CFP]

by Yu Yachen for CRI Sports

Saturday's action at Melbourne Park saw Zheng Jie of China join talented tennis players in the fourth round of the Australian Open, while Richard Gasquet of France upset ninth-seeded Janko Tisparevic.

The 2008 Australian Open winner Maria Sharapova enjoyed a 6-1, 6-2 win over Germany's Angelique Kerber at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday morning. Fourth-seeded Sharapova managed a first-serve percentage of 73 and a first-serve winning percentage of 71 during the match.

"I played a really good first set, but she certainly stepped up in the second," the 24-year-old Russian said, referring to her opponent. "The second set was a lot tougher than the score-line suggests."

World number-two Petra Kvitova raced to the next round following Maria Kirilenko's retirement due to a left leg injury. The Czech now will play against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, who knocked out Vania King of the United States 6-3, 6-4.

China's Zheng Jie ousted ninth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France to join compatriot Li Na in the last 16 at Melbourne Park.

Former Australian Open's semifinalist Zheng provided a strong start as she broke two of Bartoli's serves in a row and led the first set 4-0. Bartoli battled back hard in the following game, but Zheng retained her form to win the game 6-3, 6-3.

Elsewhere, seventh-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia was shocked by compatriot Ekaterina Makarova, 6-7 (7-9), 6-1, as Zvonareva lost her gear after losing the intense tiebreaker in the first set. Germany's Sabine Lisicki survived three sets against Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Despite securing the first set after an 8-6 tiebreaker, Sorana Cirstea of Romania failed to retain her momentum while Italy's Sara Errani made a strong comeback in the following set 6-0, 6-2.

Meanwhile, world top-ranked Novak Djokovic cruised into the last 16 by smashing France's Nicolas Mahut 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 after 74 minutes.

The Serbian praised Mahut's spirit for playing with an injured leg.

"Credit to him, we saw some taping around his knee, and I felt sorry for him," Djokovic said. "Evidently he was not playing his best or moving too well, but he did not want to retire from the match."

Both David Ferrer of Spain and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France had a joyful Saturday in the sun. Fifth-seeded Ferrer beat Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina in a 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 straight sets, while Tsonga swept Portugal's Frederico Gil three 6-2 earlier on the court.

Serbia's Janko Tisparevic was eliminated by Richard Gasquet at the Margaret Court 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. For Tisparevic, the defeat marked his eighth consecutive Australian Open to have ended before the fourth round. Gasquet will challenge Ferrer in earning a last-eight berth in the campaign.