SPORTS

Clijsters through to last eight

February 15, 2007 12:30 IST

Second seed Kim Clijsters booked a quarter-final spot at the Diamond Games with a convincing 6-0, 6-2 second-round victory over Russian Olga Poutchkova in Antwerp on Wednesday.

The world number four, returning to action after missing last week's Paris Open through injury, showed no signs of her hip problem as she cruised through.

Belgian Clijsters next faces Russia's Ana Ivanovic or Nathalie Dechy of France on Friday.

Eighth seed Ivanovic defeated Belarussian Anastasiya Yakimova 6-3, 6-2 in the first round on Wednesday.

"I felt good and the crowd were brilliant as always. I was a little nervous but it passed," Clijsters told reporters, adding that she is nursing a cold.

"I am just focussing on the next game and hopefully it all goes well. But I will have to move up a gear."

The tournament is Clijsters's last on home soil following her decision to retire at the end of the season.

Fifth-seeded Swiss Patty Schnyder was dumped out in the second round by Tatiana Golovin of France, who fought back to win 6-7, 7-6, 6-2.

Unseeded Golovin faces a quarter-final against the winner of the all-Russian clash between Elena Dementieva, seeded fourth, and Elena Likhovtseva.

Seventh seed Anna Chakvetadze came from behind to defeat Austria's Sybille Bammer 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 to seal her quarter-final berth.

 The Russian next meets third seed Nadia Petrova or Vera Zvonareva who play on Thursday.

 

Source: REUTERS
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