TOKYO - Top seed Maria Sharapova has powered past American Lisa Raymond 6-4 6-4 to join Martina Hingis in the Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals.
Four-times Tokyo winner Martina Hingis fought back to beat third seed Nathalie Dechy 4-6 7-5 6-2 and remain on course for a semi-final showdown with defending champion Sharapova.
The Russian world number four's victory came with the minimum of fuss, Sharapova converting her first match point with a blistering backhand pass off a sharp Raymond volley.
"When I had the opportunity to win, I did," Sharapova told reporters. "But I think I will play better. If I keep improving I definitely feel confident I can win it again."
In contrast, Hingis was forced to dig deep after an erratic start.
The former world number one returned to tennis last month, reaching the last eight of the Australian Open in her first grand slam since injury forced her into early retirement in 2002.
Hingis struggled to hold serve for the first set and a half but dug in to force a third set as Dechy's nerve began to waver.
The "Swiss Miss" dominated her French opponent in the deciding set, showing glimpses of the form that brought her five grand slam singles titles between 1997 and 1999.
"I was a little nervous and she pushed me, but once I felt safe from the baseline I started dictating," said the 25-year-old Hingis, who won in Tokyo in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002.
"In the last set and a half I started reading her returns and reacting better. Thank God I have still have those skills -- that was a saviour."
Hingis, who also won the Australian Open mixed doubles with India's Mahesh Bhupathi, takes on Maria Kirilenko next after the Russian's 6-4 6-4 win over Serbian eighth seed Ana Ivanovic.
Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova was another seeded casualty, the number six bowing out 7-6 6-2 to Australia's Samantha Stosur, who will meet Sharapova in Friday's quarter-finals.
Russia's Elena Likhovtseva also booked her place in the last eight with a 6-2 7-5 win over Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli.
Former French Open champion Anastasia Myskina became the fifth Russian to reach the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Czech Klara Koukalova and will play Likhovtseva next.
Second seed Elena Dementieva is the other Russian in the quarter-finals, she advanced with a tough three-set victory over Katarina Srebotnik.
- REUTERS
Tennis: Sharapova and Hingis on Tokyo collision course
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