Melbourne, Australia (SportsNetwork. Brandon Parker Jersey .com) - Top seed and five-time titlist Serena Williams was an easy winner Friday in third-round play at the Australian Open, while last years runner-up Li Na was put to the test in continued brutally hot conditions at Melbourne Park. The world No. 1 Williams wasted little time disposing of No. 31 seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia, 6-3, 6-3, to surpass Aussie legend Margaret Courts record for match wins at the tournament in the Open Era with 61. The reigning U.S. and French Open champion won 74 percent of her first-service points and served 10 aces to Hantuchovas two in the 80-minute rout at Rod Laver Arena. "It was a tough match ... its definitely hot, but you have to be ready to play," said the 17-time major singles titlist Williams. "And then you have to prepare yourself mentally, too." The 32-year-old Williams has won 24 straight matches overall dating back to last season, including a season-opening title in Brisbane two weeks ago. "I feel like, in life 32 is young. In sports its old," Williams said. "But for whatever reason, I feel like I just never was really able to reach my full potential, and I feel like recently I just have been able to do a little better. I just keep trying to improve on everything." Up next for Williams will be former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic. Meanwhile, the fourth-seeded Li, who lost to two-time reigning champion Victoria Azarenka in last years Aussie finale, was nearly stunned by 26th- seeded Czech Lucie Safarova, but rallied to pull out a 1-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 victory in two hours, 37 minutes. The former French Open champion and two-time Aussie Open runner-up Li will face 22nd-seeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round. The temperature in Melbourne reached 111 degrees at one point on Day 5, but the Aussie fans were rewarded for battling through the intense heat when Aussie crowd favorite Casey Dellacqua downed Chinas Zheng Jie 6-2, 6-4. Also moving on Friday was No. 9 seed Angelique Kerber, as last weeks Sydney runner-up doused upstart American Alison Riske 6-3, 6-4, and the 14th-seeded former French Open winner and 2008 Aussie Open runner-up Ivanovic, who dismissed 17th-seeded Aussie and former U.S. Open champ Sam Stosur 6-7 (8-10), 6-4, 6-2. Stosur has always struggled at her home Grand Slam, going just 17-12 and failing to ever get past the fourth round. The aforementioned Makarova downed Romanian Monica Niculescu 6-4, 6-4 and 30th-seeded rising Canadian Eugenie Bouchard cruised past American Lauren Davis 6-2, 6-2. Bouchard will encounter Dellacqua on Sunday. Also on a steamy Day 5, 28th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta was a 6-1, 7-5 winner over German Mona Barthel. Pennettas fourth-round opponent will be the left-handed Kerber. The third round is scheduled to conclude on Saturday, including matches for the second-seeded former world No. 1 and reigning two-time Aussie champion Azarenka and third-seeded former top-ranked star and 2008 Melbourne titlist Maria Sharapova. Azarenka will take on Austrian Yvonne Meusburger, while Sharapova will battle 25th-seeded Frenchwoman Alize Cornet. Sharapova is also a two-time Aussie runner-up, including two years ago against her rival Azarenka. Also on Saturday, fifth-seeded former Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska will face 29th-seeded Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, eighth-seeded former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic will be opposed by Japans Kurumi Nara, and 10th-seeded former top-ranked star Caroline Wozniacki will battle hot Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, who captured her first-ever WTA title in Hobart last week. The Day 6 schedule will also feature 11th-seeded Romanian Simona Halep and 13th-seeded American Sloane Stephens. Cornellius Carradine Jersey . -- Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias says he has stress fractures in both legs and isnt sure when hell be able to play again, leaving the Tigers two weeks to fill his spot for opening day and perhaps a lot longer. Emmanuel Lamur Raiders Jersey . Cleveland has won the first two of this set and has won six straight games since losing back-to-back tilts to open the year. Seattle, on the other hand, has now lost six in a row following consecutive wins to kick off its campaign.Wide receiver Sidney Rice and defensive end Red Bryant were released by the Seattle Seahawks on Friday, giving the Super Bowl champions additional salary cap space as free agency approaches. Seattle made the expected roster moves official eight days before teams can start speaking with potential free agents. Bryant had spent his entire career with the Seahawks after being a fourth-round draft pick in 2008, while Rice signed as a free agent before the 2011 season. According to the leagues transaction report, Rice was released with a "failed physical" designation. Both were due hefty salaries in 2014 that didnt necessarily match the production they had shown on the field. Rice had struggled with injuries with the Seahawks and was lost for the 2013 season after Week 8 with a knee injury. Bryant was a unique player as a 300-pound defensive end for the Seahawks, but his playing time had diminished. Seattle should save more than $12 million in salary cap space with the moves. Rice was due $8.5 million in base salary for 2014 and Bryant $4.5 million. "We want to thank both Red and Sidney for their effort, commitment and contribution to the Seattle Seahawks over the last few years," Seattle general manager John Schneider said in a statement. "These are extremely tough decisions, but we wanted to give them a head start on free agency. We wish them well in the future." Both moves were expected to happen and are likely the first inn a series that will change the makeup of the Super Bowl champions. Gareon Conley Raiders Jersey. . Bryant was one of just four players left from before the arrival of Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll. He was given a new contract during the 2012 off-season, but the emergence of Michael Bennett -- one of Seattles top free agent priorities -- appeared to make Bryant expendable. The only players still remaining from the pre-Carroll era are centre Max Unger, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and punter Jon Ryan. Bryant was also a captain and vocal leader of Seattles league-best defence. He could be an attractive option in free agency for a team seeking a defensive end that can hold the edge in defending the run in a 3-4 defence. Rice had not matched the production that came with his big contract, mostly because of injuries. Rice played in 33 games with 31 starts with 97 receptions for 1,463 yards and 12 touchdowns. But his 2011 season was cut short by a concussion and he was unable to finish the 2013 season after suffering an ACL tear in his knee and being placed on injured reserve. Rice led Seattle in receptions (50) and yards receiving (748) during the 2012 season, one of just two seasons in his career that hes played in all 16 regular-season games. Rice tweeted a goodbye to Seattle fans shortly after his release became official: "The amount of love I have for the .12thman and the (at)Seahawks organization! Thanks for a wonderful experience!" Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys NFL Jerseys From China Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys China Womens NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Throwback ' ' '