World No.5 Maria Sharapova says female players should not get paid more than their male counterparts.

The four Grand Slam tournaments now offer equal prizemoney for the men's and women's champions, ending decades of inequity between the genders.

There's been a further push to increase the women's split, but Sharapova is against the move.

The Russian star, who moved into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a straight-sets win over Elena Vesnina on Friday, believes the overall prizemoney pool should grow but remain 50-50 between the men and women.

"Of course it's fair. Let's not get greedy here," she said.

"I'm happy that it's equal. I think all the girls are. I think it's definitely fair.

"We fought for a really long time. I think prizemoney should grow in both women's and men's tennis, because I think the popularity of our sport is growing in so many different areas of the world.

"To see it expand with every trip you take into different regions, it's incredible.

"And I hope with years to come, like Billie Jean King did for us, we can do for the generation that's going to be playing when we're all retired."

The argument against handing the women a bigger share is due to the fact they are only required to play best-of-three sets instead of five at Grand Slams.

Sharapova took just 85 minutes to dust off the outclassed Vesnina on Friday.

"I started off a little bit slow. I was trying to figure out her game," Sharapova said.

"It took a few games, I think six games, to really find my game as well.

"I really tried to keep the intensity I had in the previous match, take it to this one, but that's always difficult.

"I thought I did a good job of stepping up and playing good."

Fellow Russian Elena Dementieva, another comfortable third round winner, awaits Sharapova in the fourth round.

"It's always a tough match against her. It's very physical because she gets a lot of balls back," Sharapova said of her opponent.

"She makes you work for every point. I'll need to definitely serve well, take my opportunities when I get on the return, and get a good hit on the first ball.

"It's going to be important."

On her prospects going forward, Sharapova said: "Coming off a solid performance in the previous round, you want to try to keep that intensity with every game and point that you play.

"You really got to concentrate on what you have to do. Of course, it's only going to get tougher.

"But you know me, I like those challenges and I look forward to them." Sharapova beat Vesnina 6-3, 6-0.