KEY POINTS:
Eleni Daniilidou would have something to say about this but the path is clearing for top seed Jelena Jankovic to begin the year with a title.
The departure yesterday of third seed Daniela Hantuchova and defending champion and fourth seed Marion Bartoli hasn't hurt world No 12 Jankovic's prospects of a second WTA title on Saturday.
Yesterday, the Serb wasted no time easing into the quarter-finals with a regulation 6-2, 6-1 win over Finn Emma Laine, taking only 67 minutes.
If she gets past two-time ASB Classic winner Daniilidou today, it will be shaping as Jankovic's tournament to lose. But she's still battling with her game, professing herself dissatisfied with her effort against leftie Laine.
"I felt worse [than her first round game]. I was more tired than yesterday," the 21-year-old said. "Today was sluggish, I didn't feel good on court, and I felt sleepy before the game."
But there was a bottom line - "I didn't play great tennis but it was good enough to win, and that's most important."
Jankovic has an interest in the doubles, too. She and Slovenian partner Tina Krizan are through to the last eight after beating Eva Birnerova of the Czech Republic and American Jill Craybas in straight sets last night.
Having surprise results early on adds interest. But there's a reason the best players are seeded, and they are invariably the players the public want to see. Three were gone on Monday - No 2 Anastasia Myskina, No 6 Martina Muller and No 8 Shenay Perry - and two more tumbled yesterday.
One tournament favourite who lives to fight today is Argentine Paola Suarez, the former world No 1 doubles player, in her final visit to Auckland. She plays American Jill Craybas for a semifinal spot.
"It will be good in my last year to try to hold a title, but I don't really focus on titles. My focus is to enjoy my tennis and be healthy," the winner of a whopping 42 doubles titles said.
The other player who has slipped through quietly going about her business is No 5 seed Vera Zvonareva. Having played both her games last on each day's programme has kept the world No 24 below the radar. But she was convincing in beating American Laura Granville last night, 6-4, 6-1.
A Jankovic-Zvonareva final is a decent bet.
