May 4, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1427

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ESTORIL ( Portugal), May 3: Spain's Alberto Portas upset French fourth seed Gael Monfils 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the clay-court Estoril Open Wednesday.

Journeyman Portas managed to overcome challenging conditions to earn victory in just under two-and-a-half hours.

The 31-year-old's unspectacular career was punctutated by an extraordinary Masters Series title on the Hamburg clay five years ago when he beat compatriot Alberto Martin in the final. But he has had few other highlights during his long career.

Only a handful of men's matches were programmed on a lightly scheduled day at the Estadio Nacional.

Russian former World No. 1 Marat Safin and second seed Nikolay Davydenko were due to provide the highlight as they play later in the second round.

The unseeded Safin, struggling to improve a ranking of 49 in the world as he attempts a comeback from 2005 knee troubles, has beaten his compatriot twice already this season, in the first round at Dubai in his first match back and last month at Indian Wells.

American Justin Gimelstob, who before this week had not won on clay since 1999, was later due to face Chilean specialist Nicolas Massu, the seventh seed.

In women's play, the leading pair of seeds advanced. Number one Italian Flavia Pennetta overcame Maret Ani of Estonia 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. The Italian is competing in Estoril after helping her nation to an upset Fed Cup win over France last month.

Results

Men (second round)

Alberto Portas (ESP) bt Gael Monfils (FRA) 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4; Nikolay Davydenko bt Marat Safin 4-6, 6-1, 6-2; Justin Gimelstob bt Nicholas Massu 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.

Women (second round)

Gisela Dulko (ARG) bt Paola Suarez (ARG) 6-2, 6-1; Flavia Pennetta (ITA) bt Maret Ani (EST) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2; Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) bt Mariana Diaz-Oliva (ARG) 7-5, 7-5; Zuzana Ondraskova (CZE) bt Antonella Serra Zanetti (ITA) 6-2, 6-1.

Williams FACES Hingis

BERLIN: Five-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams beat Polish teenager Urszula Radwanska 6-3, 6-3 Wednesday in the opening round of the J&S Cup, her first tournament in more than three months.

The 13th-ranked American, who's been sidelined with an elbow injury since losing in the first round of the Australian Open on Jan. 16, will meet former No. 1 Martina Hingis in the clay-court event.

Also, top-seeded Kim Clijsters defeated Ukraine qualifier Julia Vakulenko 6-3, 6-2 in 51 minutes; and third-seeded Elena Dementieva beat another Ukraine qualifier, Tatiana Perebiynis, 6-2, 6-0.

On Wednesday, the 17-year-old Agnieszka Radwanska topped the Czech Republic's Klara Koukalova 6-1, 6-2 and will play third-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia in the quarterfinals.

Williams dominated from the outset, breaking Radwanska twice early to lead 5-3 in the first set. She served an ace to go up 30-0, before Radwanska hit a two-handed backhand wide on set point.

The second set was a repeat, with Williams opening a 5-3 lead. Radwanska seemed to tire and double-faulted to end the match.

The second-ranked Clijsters, who led Belgium past defending champion Russia in the Fed Cup two weeks ago on clay, broke Vakulenko to go up 5-3 in the first set and then served it out. The Belgian then broke Vakulenko to open the second set and cruised from there.

Clijsters next plays fifth-seeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy, who beat Russia's Elena Likhovtseva 6-4, 6-1.

Results:

Second round: Francesca Schiavone bt Elena Likhovtseva 6-4 6-1; Kim Clijsters bt Julia Vakulenko 6-3 6-2; Agnieszka Radwanska bt Klara Koukalova 6-1 6-2; Elena Dementieva bt Tatiana Perebiynis 6-2 6-0;

First round: Venus Williams bt Urszula Radwanska 6-3 6-3.—Agencies