Defending champion Maria Sharapova and fourth-seeded Anastasia Myskina of Russia have reached the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific tennis tournament in Japan.
Sharapova scored a straight-set win over American Lisa Raymond, 6-4, 6-4. The Russian next plays Australia's Samantha Stosur, who ousted sixth-seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia (7-6, 6-2).
Myskina scored a straight-set victory over Klara Koukalova of the Czech Republic (6-4, 6-4). The Russian faces compatriot Elena Likhovtseva in the quarterfinals. Likhovtseva defeated France's Marion Bartoli (6-2, 7-5).
Switzerland's Martina Hingis overcame a first-set loss to beat third-seeded French player Nathalie Dechy (4-6, 7-5, 6-2). Hingis takes on Russian Maria Kirilenko in the final eight. Kirilenko ousted Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and Montenegro (6-4, 6-4).
The other quarterfinal has Elena Dementieva of Russia playing Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic.
Some information for this report was provided by AP