Top-seeded Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic and former world number one Amelie Mauresmo of France have reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Women's Hardcourts tennis tournament in Gold Coast.
Vaidisova scored a 6-4, 6-2 win over Germany's Tatjana Malek. In the final eight, the Czech player takes on Li Na of China, who beat Monique Adamczak of Australia (6-3, 6-2).
Mauresmo, a two-time major tournament winner, beat compatriot Nathalie Dechy in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. In the quarterfinals, Mauresmo plays fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland, a three-set winner over Italian Francesca Schiavone (2-6, 6-3, 6-4).
Also Wednesday, defending champion and third seed Dinara Safina of Russia beat Flavia Pennetta of Italy in three sets (6-4, 2-6, 6-4). Safina plays Israel's Shahar Peer, who advanced when her opponent Julia Schruff of Germany retired with a respiratory infection.
The last quarterfinal has Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia taking on Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Azarenka beat Ukraine's Yuliana Fedak in straight sets (6-4, 6-2). Cibulkova downed Italian Tathiana Garbin (7-5, 6-1).
The tournament is being played on hard courts and the winner receives 28-thousand dollars. The event is also a key warm-up for the Australian Open, which starts January 14th in Melbourne.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP.
