Clijsters Injured, Federer Loses in Exo

Injury claimed another top player during the day when No. 4 seed Nadia Petrova handed a walkover to No. 5 Justine Henin-Hardenne, with the Russian unable to compete due to an adductor strain.

Joining walkover beneficiaries Henin-Hardenne and Schiavone in the semifinals were winners (6) Svetlana Kuznetsova (d. Ivanovic) and (8) Nicole Vaidisova (d. Hantuchova who retired in the second set with illness).

"The key was fighting, run every ball," said Kuznetsova, who trailed 4-5, 0-40 before capturing the first set. "I think here it was much harder to beat her because of the wind because it suits her game much more than mine because she plays flat."

If you're still counting that's three of the four quarterfinal matches determined by injury or illness.

"Injuries are a part of every sport," said WTA Tour CEO Larry Scott toward the end of 2005. "It is a bit of a fluke that so many players are injured at the same time, and I don't expect this to happen next summer."

On court Thursday are (5) Henin-Hardenne vs. (6) Kuznetsova (H-H leads head-to-head 7-1), and (7) Schiavone vs. (8) Vaidisova.

Americans 0-3 Wednesday at WTA Hobart

Americans (4) Amy Frazier (l. to (5) Benesova in two tiebreaks), (8) Jill Craybas (l. to Santangelo), and unseeded Laura Granville (l. to Kostanic in three) made for a U.S. exodus from the quarterfinals Wednesday at the WTA stop in Hobart.

"She made me move a lot but then I said to myself that I had to be more dominant," said Benesova in edging Frazier. "I started putting more power in my balls."

Frazier had won earlier in the day, defeating Puerto Rico's Kristina Brandi in a rain make-up match, joined by the Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko (d. (WC) Dellacqua) in the winner's circle.

Bondarenko then fell in quarterfinal play to Dutch teen Michaella Krajicek.

"I played a good match," said Krajicek who turned 17 on Monday. "My serve was going much better than yesterday and I didn't make a lot of mistakes."

Lining up for the Thursday semifinals in Hobart are Benesova vs. Santangelo (Santangelo leads career series 1-0), and Krajicek vs. Kostanic (first meeting).

Medina Bych-slaps Ekaterina at WTA Canberra

Top-seeded Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues navigated tricky winds Wednesday at the WTA stop in Canberra, defeating Russian Ekaterina Bychkova 6-3, 6-4 to advance into the semifinals.

"Today was a tough match," Medina Garrigues said. "It was very windy and it was difficult to control shots. I had to concentrate on keeping many balls in court and then taking my chances. It was a good win, because she is a tough player."

Medina Garrigues won her last title last July at Palermo, one of two in 2005.

Also into the semis Wednesday were (6) Catalina Castano (d. Schruff who retired with heat illness), (4) Shahar Peer (d. Nakamura 6-0 in the third), and unseeded Korean Yoon Jeong Cho (d. Czink from a set down).

"When it was the rain delay I talked to my coach and he told me to stop thinking about too many things and just go back out and play my tennis," Peer said of the three-hour break in the match. "This is a huge moment for me. I think it is a bit of breakthrough. There is always steps in tennis and now I am through the quarterfinal step."

Thursday's semifinal match-ups will be Medina Garrigues vs. Peer (first meeting) and Castano vs. Cho (first meeting).

Ancic Puts Out Brit Fire at ATP Auckland

No. 5 seed Mario Ancic put out the fire of hyped Brit-Scot Andy Murray Wednesday at the ATP stop in Auckland, defeating the teen 6-3, 7-6(4) to advance into the quarterfinals.

"I had a lot of chances," Murray said. "I gave myself chances to beat a player who's played well in Grand Slams and won the Davis Cup and I should have taken them. He's way more experienced than me but I've got to start winning these matches and I think that will happen soon."

Other seeded players into the quarters Wednesday were (1) Fernando Gonzalez (d. (Q) Minar), (2) Dave Ferrer (d. (Q) Sluiter), (6) Olivier Rochus (d. (Q) Hernych), and (7) Jarkko Nieminen (d. Goldstein), all in straights sets.

Unseeded Chilean Nicolas Massu (d. C.Rochus) joined his top-seeded countryman in the quarters, and was accompanied by fellow un-seeds Stan Wawrinka (d. A.Martin) of Switzerland, and Germany's Florian Mayer (d. Vik).

On tap for Thursday are Wawrinka vs. Mayer, (7) Nieminen vs. Massu, (1) Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez vs. (5) Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic, and (6) O.Rochus vs. (2) Ferrer.

Hewitt Shrugs Off Illness for QF Berth at ATP Sydney

Top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt (d. Melzer) and No. 2 Nikolay Davydenko (d. Calleri) advanced into the quarterfinals with straight-set wins Wednesday at the ATP stop in Sydney, with the Aussie favorite seemingly shrugging off the effects of a virus that almost had him withdrawing from the tournament.

"I wouldn't say all gone just yet," said Hewitt of the virus. "But it was a big step in the right direction. I'm pretty pleased with the way I was able to go out there and focus on the job at hand and not worry about how I was feeling."

No. 8 seed James Blake received a free pass into the quarters when former No. 1 Carlos Moya withdrew before their match with a left hip injury.

Unseeded players into the quarters were Russians Igor Andreev (d. (WC) Luczak saving two match points) and Dmitry Tursunov (d. Serra), and qualifiers Andreas Seppi (d. (WC) Guccione) and Arnaud Clement (d. (LL) Monaco).

The match between Paradorn Srichaphan and qualifier Ivo Karlovic was postponed due to rain.

Matching up in the Thursday quarterfinals are Andreev vs. Tursunov in an all-Russian encounter, (1) Hewitt vs. (Q) Seppi, Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan vs. (Q) "Dr." Ivo Karlovic, then (7) Srichaphan or (Q) Karlovic vs. (2) Davydenko, in doubles (1) Bryan/Bryan vs. Damm/Paes, and (8) Blake vs. (Q) Clement.

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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
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The independent Anti-Doping Tribunal has ruled that Ms. Karatantcheva, a 16-year-old Bulgarian, has committed a Doping Offence under Article C.1 of the Programme (presence of a prohibited substance in a sample) in that a sample that she provided on 31 May 2005 at Roland Garros, and another conducted out of competition in Tokyo on 5 July 2005, tested positive for a steroid (nandrolone), a substance prohibited in competition under the WADA Code and the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme...The Tribunal declares that the player shall be ineligible for a period of two years commencing 1 January 2006."...Nathan Healey and Lauren Breadmore have received the final two wildcards for next week's Australian Open...From The Herald Sun on Tommy Haas beating Roger Federer at the Kooyong exhibition: "It was almost as if Haas had employed the services of a voodoo witch doctor at times as Federer, who won this invitational event at a canter 12 months ago, miss-hit several shots when belting winners would have been the easier option. 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