Tennis: Three more seeds out of ASB Classic

Julia Goerges of Germany lost 6-2 6-3 to countrywoman Angelique Kerber. Photo / Richard Robinson

The ASB Classic tennis tournament has lost three more seeded players following the defeats by Julia Goerges, Monica Niculescu and Peng Shuai.

Following a benign start to the tournament for the top seeds, a total of four were bundled out on a rain-disrupted day in Auckland.

The highest-profile player to go was second seed Peng, from China, who lost to Czech Lucie Hradecka 6-4 6-3. Peng, ranked 17th in the world, was a semifinalist here last year, but looked to be struggling when taken to three sets by Aravane Rezai on Tuesday and was bundled out in 73 minutes by Hradecka.

It was no surprise to see Goerges also lose today after she struggled with her fitness in beating defending champion Greta Arn in three sets last night. German Goerges, the fifth seed who was also a semifinalist here last year, lost 6-2 6-3 to countrywoman Angelique Kerber, who defeated New Zealander Marina Erakavic last night.

Kerber's reward is a quarter-final match against top seed Sabine Lisicki, who beat Mona Barthel 7-6 3-6 6-3 today.

Monica Niculescu, the eighth seed from Romania, lost 6-2 6-2 to China's Zheng Jie.

Earlier, sixth seeded Italian Roberta Vinci was beaten by Russian Elena Vesnina 6-3 6-4.

Vinci struggled to find her rhythm in the match and Vesnina took advantage to win in straight sets.

Vesnina, ranked 57 in the world, has some form in Auckland having made it through to the 2009 final before being beaten by fellow Russian Elena Dementieva.

Vesnina will meet fourth seed Flavia Pennetta in the quarter-finals, after the Italian navigated past Briton Elena Baltacha 6-4 6-2 in her second-round match.