Krajicek, Smashnova Into Budapest Quarters

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- After going to three sets in her first round, Anna Smashnova regained her impeccable Budapest form in the second round, crushing Laura Pous Tio, 60 62, to make her way into the quarterfinals at the Budapest Grand Prix, the last clay court event of this season.

Smashnova, the No.8 seed and defending champion, was just too solid off the ground against the young Spaniard, and improved her record at the $145,000, Tier IV event to 7-0. The Israeli was in devastating form here last year, losing just 12 games en route to the title (tying her with Venus Williams for the 2005 record for fewest games lost in winning a title). She extended her event record to 6-0 with a 61 36 63 win over Eleni Daniilidou earlier this week.

She will next face the winner of Thursday's encounter between top-seeded Catalina Castano and emerging French star Aravane Rezai. Should she meet Castano, it would be a rematch of the 2005 final, which the Israeli won, 62 62.

Another marquee name advancing to the quarterfinals on Wednesday was No.2 seed Michaella Krajicek, who went to three sets for the second time this week but again managed to bring out her best in when it counted most, pulling away in the third set for a 75 67(3) 61 victory over Tsvetana Pironkova. Krajicek also went the distance and prevailed in her first round match with Stephanie Foretz, winning 61 57 61. Although the big-serving, heavy-hitting Dutch teenager's game seems more suited to faster courts, she has had success on clay before, reaching the semifinals at Istanbul the week before Roland Garros.

She will next face Italian qualifier Sara Errani, who reached her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour quarterfinal with a 61 64 victory over Yuliana Fedak.

In addition to Smashnova, Krajicek and Errani, Germany's Martina Muller also reached the final eight, upsetting No.7 seed Martina Sucha, 63 60. It is Muller's second quarterfinal of the year, having also made it to this stage at the Tier III event in Strasbourg, where she notched her first Top 10 victory over Patty Schnyder en route.

The remaining quarterfinal slots will be determined Thursday, as Castano takes on Rezai, No.4 seed Iveta Benesova faces Romina Oprandi, No.5 seed Lourdes Dom�uez Lino faces qualifier Lucie Hradecka and Kaia Kanepi squares off against another qualifier, Eva Birnerova.

This is the sixth staging of the Budapest Grand Prix. Past champions are Jelena Jankovic (2004), Magui Serna (2003), Martina Muller (2002) and Magdalena Maleeva (2001). The winner earns $22,900, while the finalist pockets $12,345.
-- WTA