honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:44 a.m., Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Tennis: Two favorites out of Pattaya Open early

Associated Press

PATTAYA, Thailand (AP) — Third-seeded Dominika Cibulkova withdrew from the Pattaya Open because of illness today, and fourth-seeded Sybille Bammer was beaten by Vera Dushevina, 6-4, 7-5, to knock two of the favorites from the tournament.

Cibulkova, ranked 19th in the world, was replaced by lucky loser Ryko Fuda of Japan, who subsequently lost 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to Vitalia Diatchenko. Diatchenko will face India's Sania Mirza in the round of 16.

Dushevina's victory secured a spot in the quarterfinals.

In an earlier second round match, fifth-seeded Peng Shuai of China reached the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (4), 6-0 victory over Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan.

Peng, ranked No. 35 in the world, struggled early but found momentum in the latter part of the match, advancing to the last eight for the second time in Pattaya.

"I've never played her so the first set was a bit tough for me," said Peng, who reached the Pattaya semifinals in 2007.

Also in the first round, eighth-seeded Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia survived a challenge from 38-year-old Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Krumm, who came back on tour after a 12-year retirement, appeared to have leg problems in the final set and was in tears after the match.

Sixth-seeded Tamarine Tanasugarn defeated Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan, 6-2, 7-6 (4) in front of home fans, and seventh-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel beat Thailand's Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 6-1, 6-0.