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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:20 a.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Tennis: Sharapova advances to Qatar Open 3rd rd.

Associated Press

DOHA, Qatar — Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova, top-seeded Ana Ivanovic and No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced to the third round at the Qatar Open today.

Sharapova beat Russian qualifier Galina Voskoboeva 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, Kuznetsova edged Nathalie Dechy 7-5, 7-5, and Ivanovic beat Olga Govortsova 6-3, 6-1 but twisted her ankle toward the end of the match.

"It became a very tough match at the end because the pain in my leg was increasing," Ivanovic said. "However, I had my chances and I grabbed them. I was fairly determined to win my match and I am glad I was able to finish off quickly, because it is hard to focus when your mind is on the pain."

In other matches, Li Na of China upset No. 5 Anna Chakvetadze of Russia 7-6 (7), 6-4, Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia defeated No. 9 Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 6-3, 6-4, Shahar Peer of Israel beat Virginie Razzano of France 6-1, 7-6 (3), and Dinara Safina topped Yan Zi of China 6-2, 6-1.