Safina, Chinese Through Wednesday at WTA Estoril

"It's nice to win on my birthday," said Safina, wearing a midriff-baring top that did not exactly advertise her fitness level. "I was really nervous at the start, I was actually shaking at the beginning. I haven't played well for the last few months, but I was just trying my best. I told myself before the match to just go for it and be aggressive, and that's why I won today."

China's Jie Zheng was the only unseeded player to advance Wednesday, taking out German qualifier Martina Muller in straight sets.

Chinese coach Jiang Hong was happy to see Li and Zheng advance to the quarters, with his stars not yet particularly adept on the dirt.

"We are trying to approach tennis in a professional way, especially in women's tennis which is easier to be successful in, because we are preparing for the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008," Hong said.

On tap for Thursday in Estoril are K.Bondarenko vs. Safina, Krajicek vs. Safarova, Cervanova vs. Craybas, and Savchuk vs. Diaz-Oliva.