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Russia’s Alisa Kleybanova has advanced to the third round of Australian Open 2010 after a 6-4 6-3 victory over Sorana Cirstea on Wednesday.

Kleybanova, the 27th seed, had to fight hard for the victory, as Cirstea broke her service three games in the two-set match.

It was Kleybanova’s 27 winners to Cirstea’s 15 that proved a large part of the difference between the two. The Russian also produced less unforced errors than her Romanian counterpart (24-39).

The 20-year-old Kleybanova looked the stronger of the two players early on, showing good energy and taking the first set 6-4, making only 11 unforced errors to Cirstea’s 22. The Russian also used her power advantage to good effect, sending down five aces in the set.

The 19-year-old Romanian showed plenty of fight to stay in the second set, and had it not been for several missed break point opportunities, she may well have taken the match into a decider.

Cirstea was particularly aggrieved about a line call mid-way through the set that cost her a break point opportunity. She did manage to break the Russian’s serve late in the set, but Kleybanova responded immediately, piling pressure on Cirstea’s serve and breaking back.

Serving for the set and the match, the favourite had a match point at 40-30 but missed the opportunity, sending the game to deuce. Cirstea then fought hard again and produced three opportunities to break serve and come back into the match.

However, she failed to capitalise, and Kleybanova made no mistake when she had a second opportunity to close out the match, finishing it in one hour and 42 minutes.

Kleybanova will now face a tough third round test, as she meets the winner of Wednesday night’s blockbuster between Elena Dementieva and Justine Henin.