Tennis: Hantuchova, Petrova reach quarter-finals

Second seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia is the first player through to the quarter-finals of the US$145,000 ASB Classic.

Hantuchova ranked at 17 in the world easily dispatched American Jill Craybas 6-3 6-1.

The match was delayed slightly after the courts were damp from early rain.

Hantuchova will now face either defending champ Katarina Srebotnik or Israeli qualifier Tzipora Obziler.

Top seeded Russian and world No 7 Nadia Petrova is also through after making short work of fellow Russian Vera Dushevina.

Patrova won 6-3 6-0 in gusty conditions, and was frustrated at times but never let her opponent into the game.

"It's really hard with this weather... you just do whatever you need to. Unfortunately with the wind you cannot play the beautiful game," she said after the match. Wind gusts of up to 65km/h were being recorded in Auckland this afternoon.

After her victory, Hantuchova said: "I felt like I was in control of the match right from the beginning. I was expecting a tough match because Jill is a very good player, she has the experience, but I got on top of her."

In another early match Kristina Brandi (Puerto Rico) beat Maria Sanchez Lorenzo (Spain) 6-4 6-1.

- NZPA