Sharapova leads Russian challenge in Melbourne

MOSCOW, Jan 8 (Reuters) US Open champion and world number two Maria Sharapova will lead a strong Russian challenge in next week's Australian Open.

The 19-year-old Siberian heads a powerful Russian contingent which also includes world number four Svetlana Kuznetsova, sixth-ranked Nadia Petrova and eighth-ranked Elena Dementieva.

After triumphing at Flushing Meadows for her second grand slam title four months ago, Sharapova is eager to add the Australian Open crown to her impressive trophy case.

Success in Melbourne has an added incentive for the Florida-based Russian as she would then overtake Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne as world number one.

Still, Sharapova has often said her main goal is to win titles rather than worry about the rankings.

''Personally, I don't feel it's a huge deal,'' she said referring to who might end up at the top of the rankings.

''I honestly don't remember who ends the year number one. You remember people who win grand slams.'' The Australian Open is the only major that has so far eluded the Russian women but with seven of them in the top 20 they have a good chance to end the Melbourne jinx this year.

Russian men have not matched the success rate of their female compatriots in recent years.

SAFIN RETURNS However, 2005 Australian Open champion Marat Safin is particularly looking forward to playing at Melbourne Park after missing last year's tournament with a knee injury.

''This was a really bad year for me, probably the worst in my whole career,'' Safin said last month after beating Jose Acasuso in the fifth rubber to clinch Russia's second Davis Cup title with a 3-2 victory over Argentina in the final.

''I really hope to do well in 2007 and regain my rankings,'' said the former world number one, who last year tumbled out of the top 100 in the ATP rankings for the first time since making his professional debut as a 17-year-old in 1997.

''I'm especially looking forward to playing in the Australian Open.'' The big Russian has always done well on the Melbourne hard courts, reaching the Australian Open final in 2002 and 2004 before winning it the following year for his second grand slam title.

World number three Nikolay Davydenko and 24th-ranked Mikhail Youzhny could also be a threat after both reached the US Open semi-finals last year on a similar surface at Flushing Meadows.

Another member of Russia's victorious Davis Cup quartet, the 22nd-ranked Dmitry Tursunov, is also capable of a good run following his breakthrough season last year.

REUTERS DKS PM0737