Justine Henin of Belgium hits a return to Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia during their match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 21, 2011. REUTERS

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Justine Henin's run at the Australian Open finished in the third round Friday when she lost 6-4, 7-6 (8) to Svetlana Kuznetsova just a year after reaching the final in her comeback to Grand Slam tennis.

It was Henin's first loss in a major to Kuznetsova, the former French and U.S. Open champion, and her worst run at a Grand Slam event since Wimbledon in 2005.

Henin was only weeks into a comeback from a career break from the tour when she lost the final last year to Serena Williams, the third time in four appearances that she'd reached the championship match at Melbourne. Her comeback season was derailed when she injured her right elbow at Wimbledon and didn't play again in 2010.

"There are some days that are harder than others for a lot of reasons, physical, mental, your adversary also, sometimes a style of game that is harder to manage, the pressure," the seven-time Grand Slam winner said. "But obviously I wanted to play, I wanted to win. I wanted to go as far as possible."

Kuznetsova will meet French Open champion Francesca Schiavone in the fourth round.

Caroline Wozniacki, playing her major with the No. 1-ranking, advanced in a routine way, then had a very unusual news conference. Also advancing were No. 8 Victoria Azarenka and No. 9 Li Na, a semifinalist here last year.

 

Roger Federer of Switzerland hits a return to Xavier Malisse of Belgium during their match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 21, 2011. REUTERS

Defending champion Roger Federer beat Xavier Malisse 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 to earn his 57th career win at the Australian Open, overhauling Stefan Edberg's Open Era record.

"It's very nice, but he still stays my idol," said Federer, a 16-time Grand Slam winner, as he acknowledged yet another record.

He will next play Tommy Robredo, who beat Ukraine's Sergiy Stakhovsky 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.