Czech Charge Underway in Prague

Second-seeded Klara "Kooky" Koukalova and countrywoman Zuzana Ondraskova led a Czech Republic charge into the quarterfinals on Thursday at the Prague Open 2005.

Koukalova, the No.2 seed, made it into the final eight when her second round opponent, Maja Matevzic, was forced to retire midway through the second set due to a left elbow sprain. Koukalova took the first set, 6-3, and held a 3-0 advantage when Matevzic was unable to continue playing.

The Prague native will next take on American Jill Craybas, who reached the quarterfinals for the second time in three weeks with a 75 64 victory against Korea's Yoon Jeong Cho.

Ondraskova reached the quarterfinals after upsetting No.3 seed Jelena Kostanic, 75 75. The victory marks Ondraskova's second victory against a Top 50 player in the last several weeks. She also defeated then-No.46 Vera Douchevina in the first round at Warsaw two weeks ago.

Ondraskova will look to continue her good fortunes and attempt to reach her first career Tour semifinal in the next round when she faces Argentine Mariana Diaz-Oliva, a 62 61 winner against Nicole Pratt.