October 12, 2007	Friday	Ramazan 29, 1428

MOSCOW, Oct 11: Russian top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova battled back from a set down to move into the last eight of the 2.34-million-dollar joint ATP and WTA Kremlin Cup event with a win over Argentina’s Gisela Dulko here on Wednesday.

With that 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 win this year’s US Open finalist Kuznetsova, currently second in the world, levelled her head-to-head record with Dulko at 2-2.

The opponents traded breaks throughout the opening set but the Argentine 22-year-old produced slightly fewer mistakes to claim the opener in 32 minutes.

Kuznetsova replied positively and broke twice in the second to pull the scores level and despite trading breaks in the third Kuznetsova, 22, was more accurate, winning the set and the match in two hours to enter the quarter-finals.

Second seed Maria Sharapova of Russia looked a pale shadow of her normal self and fell at the hands of unheralded Belarus Victoria Azarenka, who breezed into the last eight with a 7-6 (11/9), 6-2 win in their first ever meeting.

Marion Bartoli of France also failed to clinch a quarter-final berth losing 2-6, 6-0, 6-4 to Vera Dushevina. Vera Zvonareva battled back from a set down to upset sixth seed Amelie Mauresmo 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Mikhail Youzhny advanced into the second round following a confident 6-3, 6-2 win over Latvian teenager Ernest Gulbis.

Wednesday’s results (x denotes seeding):

Women’s:

First round: Dinara Safina (RUS) bt Martina Muller (GER) 6-1, 6-3; Vera Zvonareva (RUS) bt Amelie Mauresmo (FRA x6) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Maria Sharapova (RUS x2) 7-6 (11/9), 6-2; Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS x1) bt Gisela Dulko (ARG) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4; Elena Dementieva (RUS) bt Patty Schnyder (SWI x7) 6-3, 6-4; Vera Dushevina (RUS) bt Marion Bartoli (FRA x5) 2-6, 6-0, 6-4.

Men’s

First round: Andy Murray (GBR x3) bt Evgueni Korolev (RUS) 6-2, 6-4; Igor Andreev (RUS) bt Nicolas Mahut (FRA) 6-3, 6-4; Mikhail Youzhny (RUS x2) bt Ernest Gulbis (LAT) 6-3, 6-2.

Second round: Florent Serra (FRA) bt Kristof Vliegen (BEL) 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 6-2; Radek Stepanek (CZE) bt Dmitry Tursunov (RUS x7) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1; Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER x8) bt Marin Cilic (CRO) 7-6 (10/8), 1-6, 6-4; Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA x4) bt Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-3, 6-4.

LJUBICIC SURVIVES FISH SCARE

VIENNA: Defending champion Ivan Ljubicic maintained his unbeaten record in Vienna on Wednesday, but he was stretched to the limit before defeating American Mardy Fish 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 7-6 (7/4) to reach the quarter-finals.

It was the first time in three years that the third-seeded Croat conceded a set, and that came after he had failed to take advantage of five break points early in the match.

Fish survived that threat, largely with some strong serving, and then went on to take the first set on a tie-break.

Ljubicic remained under siege early in the second set, fighting off two break points for 0-2, before a run of eight straight points allowed him to break for 3-2. A further break for 5-2 followed.

Both players had break point opportunities early in the deciding set, but the match was eventually decided by a single mini-break in the tie-break, when Fish double-faulted to give Ljubicic a 5-4 lead.

Wednesday’s results:

Second round: Fernando Gonzalez (CHI x2) bt Jiri Vanek (CZE) 6-3, 6-4; Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA) 7-6 (7/2), 1-6, 6-2; Ivan Ljubicic (CRO x3) bt Mardy Fish (US) 7-6 (7/4), 2-6, 7-6 (7/4);

Andrea Seppi (ITA) bt Robin Haase (NED) 7-5, 6-3.

HAAS WINS

STOCKHOLM: Tommy Haas stayed in the chase for a Masters Cup spot while Sweden’s injury-plagued Joachim Johansson returned a winner after a long absence at the Stockholm Open on Wednesday.

Haas, seeded fourth, improved his chances for a place in the season-ending championships, booking a quarter-final place over Spain’s Albert Montanes 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in 93 minutes.

Wednesday’s results:

First round: Bjorn Rehnquist (SWE) bt Vince Spadea (US) 6-4, 6-4; Peter Luczak (AUS) bt Benjamin Becker (GER) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; Frank Dancevic (CAN) bt Peter Wessels (NED) 6-1, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (8/6); Michael Ryderstedt (SWE) bt Kenneth Carlsen (DEN) 6-3, 7-6 (7/4); Michael Llodra (FRA) bt Denis Gremelmayr (GER) 6-3, 6-2; Joachim Johansson (SWE) bt Carlos Berlocq (ARG) 7-6 (7/1), 6-2; Arnaud Clement (FRA) bt Max Mirnyi (BLR) 6-3, 6-2.

Second round: Tommy Haas (GER x4) bt Albert Montanes (ESP) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

Juan Monaco (ARG x5) bt Filip Prpic (SWE) 6-4, 6-4.

JANKOVIC RETIRES

BANGKOK: World number three and top-seed Jelena Jankovic retired from her first-round match at the Bangkok Open, while second-seed Venus Williams was cruising when rain suspended play on Wednesday.

Jankovic bowed out at the beginning of the third set against 68th ranked Zi Yan of China due to heat illness. The 22-year-old Zi, known more for her doubles play, gave a spirited effort in the 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 0-0 match.

Venus Williams looked poised for a straight sets victory over Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-2, 4-1 when rain forced the match to be called off.

Wednesday’s results:

First round: Chan Yung-Jan (TPE) bt Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 6-3, 6-3; Vania King (US) bt Jill Craybas (USA) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2; Yan Zi (CHN) bt Jelena Jankovic (SRB x1) 6-4, 6-7 (7/4) retired; Venus Williams (US x2) vs Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 6-2, 4-1 (suspended-rain).

Second round: Camille Pin (FRA) bt Klara Zakopalova (CZE) 6-3, 7-6 (7/1); Flavia Pennetta (ITA x7) bt Casey Dellacqua (AUS) 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. — Agencies