Day Five of the 2009 Australian Open was going along as planned until two stirring late-day performances by longshots rocked the grounds in Melbourne. 29th seed Russian Alisa Kleybanova muscled her way to the biggest upset of her career with a hard fought three set win over Serbia’s 5th seed and 2008 Australian Runnerup, Ana Ivanovic. In a match filled with ebbs and tides, Kleybanova seized the momentum and joined three Russian teammates in the top half of the draw in the round of sixteen. What a day for Russian Women! What a day for Alisa Kleybanova! What a gut-wrenching loss for the serve-troubled Ana Ivanovic!

Critics have been assailing Ivanovic’s serve since she arrived at Melbourne. Her inconsistent ball toss has her swaying into the ball instead of moving with her usually authority. In fact, Ana’s court presence, while always competitive, is tentative, like her serve. Tennis experts had hoped that she would use the off-season to correct her problems, but from her shaky first round performance right to the end, it was clear, her ball toss issues persisted and continued to plaque her effectiveness.

Kleybanova’s power baseline play took advantage of the Serbian beauty’s shortcomings. Continually on the offensive, Alisa drove forehands deep to the corners while firing cross court backhands that had the favorite on her heels most of the match. Alisa served notice to the crowd by acing Ana in the match’s first point. In Australia this year, the young and restless players are on their game and making their moves. The hierarchy of Women’s Tennis could be shifting dramatically in the early months of the season. With the early exits of Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic, the crowds at Melbourne are expecting upsets in every round. The Women’s top bracket could well have three Russians in the quarter finals.

With Ivanovic out of the way, the stage was set for the heavily favored Dane Caroline Wozniacki to assert herself and fill the void. Instead, Australian comeback player, Jelena Dokic invited herself to the round of sixteen party.

After losing the first set to Wozniacki 3-6, Jelena took control of the match. Riding the strong support of the Australian throng, Dokic stormed to a 6-1, 6-2 finish, leaving the pretty Dane shaken but impressed by her opponent.

Dokic committed 11 more unforced errors than Wozniacki, but she compensated with 16 more outright winners. Jelena was the aggressor throughout the match. With each winner, the gallery became more inspired.

At 25 years old, this marks Dokic’s first entry into the round of sixteen at the Australian. With 185 tour victories, Jelena is no stranger to her opponents. The two upstarts, Kleybanova and Dokic will meet in the next round, so the quarter-finals will feature a clear longshot. Dokic will be the heavy crowd favorite to claim the Cinderella title.

Number 1 seed, Jelena Jankovoic had little trouble with Japan’s Ai Sugiyama, disposing of the 33 year old 26th seed 6-4, 7-5. Jankovic will next play France’s star and 16th seed Marion Bartoli who survived a three set scare from Czech comebacker Lucie Safarova, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Jankovic will need to be on her game for Bartoli, who has impressed the Australian crowds with her strong baseline play.

19th seed Nadia Petrova and 7th seed Vera Zvonareva, both of Russia, will square away for the right to play the Jankovic-Bartoli winner. Both Russians are on their games. Petrova won by way of a medical retirement and Zvonareva has yet to lose a set at Melbourne. Petrova will have a hard time with the hard serving Zvonareva.

Another Russian, Dinara Safina, the 3rd seed, cruised past overmatched Kaia Kanepi inn straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. Kanepi was never in the match as Safina’s footwork showed marked improvement over earlier matches. Safina will meet France’s stylish Alize Cornet, the 15th seed, in the round of sixteen. Cornet had a tough three set match with Slovakian powerhouse Daniela Hantuchova.

The stage is set for a weekend of excitement at Melbourne. The bookmakers are scrambling to establish new lines for the survivors. The Australian summer marches on and all is well in the topsy-turvy tennis world down under.