MELBOURNE (AFP) – Dinara Safina buried some of her 2009 ghosts when she raced into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday, expressing relief at getting through her match on Rod Laver Arena.

It was her first appearance on Melbourne's centre court since last year's Australian Open final, when she imploded spectacularly under the pressure of the occasion to lose to Serena Williams in straight sets 6-0, 6-3.

There was a sparser crowd this time round to witness her 6-1, 6-2 thrashing of England's Elena Baltacha, but the second seed still took heart from a winning return to the scene of one of her worst days in tennis.

"I didn't have good memories of the last match I played on Rod Laver Arena, for sure," said the world number two.

"I am glad to be back and I had to fight hard and make sure I won to forget the bad memories.

"I played some unbelievable matches on this court last year, saving match points and things, but had that one bad match."

Safina simply overpowered the unseeded Baltacha, winning in under an hour.

The Russian hit 19 winners in another improved performance, while her English opponent managed just four.

She arrived in Melbourne with question marks over her chances of a maiden Grand Slam win as she returned from the back injury that hampered her in late 2009.

However, the 23-year-old has yet to drop a set in three matches and has looked more comfortable each time she has stepped on court.

Safina agreed she simply overpowered the 83rd-ranked Baltacha.

"My game is trying to put pressure on opponent," she said. "I managed to dictate from the first point of the match.

"I think I was doing everything right and during the match I was trying to do it more and more, to give her less and less time.

"I think it was very solid match from my side. I'm pretty satisfied with everything I did."

Safina, seeking her first Grand Slam singles title having lost three finals in the previous two years, said there was still considerable room for improvement as the tournament progresses.

"I think it was about seven (out of 10)," she said.

"It doesn't matter by the score that I won easier, there are still some moments in some games that I could do better.

"The more matches I'm going to play, I'm going to try to do more and more things and feel more and more comfortable on the court.

Safina could face fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko in the fourth round and appears in a favourable section of the draw.

One of the Belgian comeback duo of Kim Clijsters or Justine Henin is likely to be her semi-final opponent if she reaches that far.