ANTWERP, Feb 16: Ukrainian Olga Savchuk upset ninth seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-4 6-3 at the Proximus Diamond Games on Thursday to book a quarterfinal place against Russia’s Nadia Petrova.

The qualifier completely outplayed the Slovak world number 14, ranked 99 places above her, to reach her first full WTA Tour last-eight contest of the year.

Earlier on Thursday, Russia’s Elena Dementieva reached the quarterfinals of the Belgian event with a 6-3 7-6 victory over Poland’s Marta Domachowska.

The fifth seed made light work of the opening set, but errors on her notoriously shaky serve allowed Domachowska to hold on for the tie-break, which the Russian took 7-5.

Dementieva now faces Greece’s Elena Daniilidou for a place in the last four.

Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo will take centre stage later on Thursday when she takes on Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic.

The French world number two and defending champion is aiming for a hat-trick of titles after her successes in Melbourne and at the Paris Open last week.

A quarterfinal meeting with Swiss sixth seed Patty Schnyder awaits the winner.

Schnyder was to due to face Kveta Peschke in the second round on Thursday, but the Czech player was forced to miss the tie with a foot injury picked up on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, world number one Kim Clijsters is taking it easy ahead of her quarterfinal against Russian Dinara Safina on Friday.

The US Open champion had to fight back from a set down on Wednesday in an epic encounter with France’s Tatiana Golovin.

Second round results:

Olga Savchuk (Ukraine) beat 9-Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) 6-4, 6-3; 5-Elena Dementieva (Russia) beat Marta Domachowska (Poland) 6-3, 7-6; 6-Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) beat Kveta Peschke (Czech Republic) — walkover.

Santangelo, Kostanic in quarterfinals

BANGALORE: Third-seeded Italian Mara Santangelo and sixth seed Jelena Kostanic cruised to the quarterfinals of the WTA Bangalore Open on Thursday.

Santangelo, who lost the opening set after leading 5-4, found her feet in the second and eventually won 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 against Israel’s 32-year-old Tzipora Obziler.

Croatian Kostanic proved too strong for Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi, winning 6-1, 6-4. Her powerful cross-court volleys and backhand slices often forced her opponent into errors.

Italian Maria Camerin, who beat second-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel on Wednesday, continued her winning run as she overcame Russian Alla Kudryavtseva 6-1, 7-5 in the second round.

Second round: Maria Camerin (ITA) bt Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 6-1, 7-5; Mara Santangelo (ITA) bt Tzipora Obziler (ISR) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3; Jelena Kostanic (CRO) bt Kaia Kanepi (EST) 6-1, 6-4; Yuliana Fedak (UKR) bt Isha Lakhani (IND) 6-3, 6-3.

BUENOS AIRES: Results in the ATP tournament on Wednesday:

Second round: Filippo Volandri (ITA) bt Tomas Behrend (GER) 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/2); Boris Pashanski (SEM) bt Alberto Martin (ESP) 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.

First round: Juan Antonio Marin (CRC) bt Razvan Sabau (ROM) 6-1, 6-1.

SAN JOSE (California): Rresults in the San Jose ATP tournament on Wednesday.

First round: Kristof Vliegen (BEL) bt Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-1, 6-3; Kenneth Carlsen (DEN) bt Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1; Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) bt Paul Goldstein (USA) 6-4, 6-2; Mark Philippoussis (AUS) bt Tommy Robredo (ESP x4) 3-6, 7-5, 7-5; Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) bt Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2; Wayne Arthurs (AUS) bt Bobby Reynolds (USA) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.

Second round: Vincent Spadea (USA) bt Travis Rettenmaier (USA) 6-2, 6-0

MARSEILLE (France): Results from the Marseille ATP tournament on Wednesday:

First round

Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) bt Jerome Haehnel (FRA) 5-7, 6-3, 6-4;

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 6-4, 7-6 (7/3);

Fabrice Santoro (FRA) bt Thomas Johansson (SWE) 6-4, 7-6 (7/3);

Christophe Saurel (FRA) bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-3, 6-3;

Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) bt Paradorn Srichaphan (THA) 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3;

Arnaud Clement (FRA) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA) 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.—Agencies