The 15th-seeded American hit 29 aces and dominated from the baseline throughout the three-hour 25-minute marathon to build up a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 third-round win over the unseeded Czech.

Korda was hailed as the people's champion last year after battling his way through the men's draw to claim his first Grand Slam title at the unlikely age of 30.

But after news that he had tested positive for a steroid at Wimbledon -- and had escaped a ban -- Korda had the crowd and players against him during his defence and even suffered the indignity of his first-round opponent refusing to shake his hand. After today's battle, Korda was rewarded with a handshake and a heartfelt message of congratulations.

Russian starlet Anna Kournikova slayed her double-faulting demon today and set up a fourth-round battle of the blondes againstformer champion Mary Pierce at the Australian Open.

Four-time champion Monica Seles and 14th seed Sandrine Testud came under pressure but survived into the last 16 too. Defending champion Martina Hingis joined them after giving a tennis lesson to Australian Jelena Dokic.

The men's draw saw another big-name casualty as former two-time champion Jim Courier pulled out of his third-round match against 10th seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov with a groin injury.

After two nightmare rounds riddled with a total of 54 double faults, 12th seed Kournikova replaced power with powder-puff serves against lowly-ranked German Andrea Glass. The Russian had 10 in the first set, but only three and one in the next two.

PAES STUMBLES: Meanwhile India's Leander Paes and his American partner Katrina Adams lost in the first round of the mixed doubles here today. Paes-Adams lost 6-7(2-7), 3-6.

How The Seeds Fared

Men singles (3rd round): 5-Andre Agassi (US) bt Jiri Novak (Czech) 6-3, 6-2, 6-1; 10-Yevgeny Kafelnikov(Rus) bt Jim Courier (US) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 3-0 (Courier retired with groin strain); 15-Todd Martin (US) bt Petr Korda (Cze) 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 5-7, 6-4.

Women singles (3rd round): 2-Martina Hingis (Swi) bt Jelena Dokic (Aus) 6-1 6-2; 6-Monica Seles (US) bt Sabine Appelmans (Bel) 6-2 6-2; 7-Mary Pierce (Fra) bt Rita Grande (Ita) 6-2, 6-2; 10-Steffi Graf (Ger) bt Mary Joe Fernandez (US) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; 12-Anna Kournikova (Rus) bt Andrea Glass (Ger) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; 14-Sandrine Testud (Fra) bt Serena Williams (US) 6-2, 2-6, 9-7; 16-Amanda Coetzer (SA) bt Janet Lee (Tai) 6-3, 7-5; 10-Steffi Graf (Ger) bt Mary Joe Fernandez (US) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Other Third Round Results

Men singles: Tommy Haas (Ger) bt Daniel Nestor (Can) 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 6-4; Vincent Spadea (US) bt Martin Damm (Cze) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Fabrice Santoro (Fra) bt Nicolas Kiefer (Ger) 7-6 (9-7), 6-1, 6-3; Wayne Black (Zim) bt Gianluca Pozzi (Ita) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2; Andrei Pavel (Rom) bt Paul Goldstein (US) 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Womensingles: Barbara Schett (Aut) bt Elena Likhovtseva (Russ) 6-4 6-4.