Kirilenko Upsets Jankovic; Sharapova Wins in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA, USA - The Russian squad came out firing in San Diego on Thursday, filling five of eight available quarterfinal spots at the $1.34-million Acura Classic. Among the winners was Maria Kirilenko, who pulled off the first big upset of the week.

Kirilenko came into San Diego having won consecutive matches just twice this year, so by making the round of 16 at the La Costa Resort and Spa, the Russian could have been satisfied and accepted an equal-best season performance. But that was wildly far from what ended up transpiring, as the world No.42 stunned world No.3 Jelena Jankovic in a marathon three set thriller to advance to her first quarterfinal of the season.

The crafty Kirilenko came out of the blocks quickly, cruising through the opening set, 6-2, breaking serve in the second and last games. Jankovic, the match win leader this year, fought back for a 6-3 second set win; but her inspired opponent did not let the opportunity pass, even regrouping after squandering 4-2 and 5-3 leads in the last set to complete her second complete Top 10 win, 62 36 75.

"Maria played very well, and I was struggling the whole match," Jankovic said. "I had my chances but didn't do the right things; she took her chances. It's difficult when you're not physically well but I tried my best. It just wasn't good enough. It's my first tournament after vacation and I need to get back into my training."

Next up for Kirilenko is No.9 seed Elena Dementieva, who ousted No.5 seed Marion Bartoli, 64 75. Dementieva had lost her last two matches with Bartoli, at Roland Garros and Eastbourne earlier this year; this time it was a different story as Dementieva stood her ground better against Bartoli's two-fisted blasts.

"I hesitated too much, which made the difference; I took the ball too late, which you can't do with Elena, because she can defend really well," Bartoli said. "The more she runs the better she plays. Against Elena you think you're in control of the match but if you're not quick enough getting to the ball she'll push you back.

"I thought the level of the match was good. We didn't make many mistakes. My level of play is fine. I just need to make a few adjustments."

While No.2 seed Jankovic was bundled out of the tournament, No.1 seed Maria Sharapova kept moving, routing No.13 seed Tatiana Golovin, 60 63. Sharapova won the first nine games of the match before Golovin got on the board with three games; but the Russian stopped that run and reeled off three more to end it.

"I was definitely happy to get those two breaks back," said Sharapova about the lapse. "I stayed focused and played smart and aggressive. I'm moving well."

Next up for Sharapova is an in-form Sania Mirza, who notched her fourth Top 20 win in the last eight days with a 61 62 steamrolling of No.8 seed Dinara Safina.

"It was just a matter of time until I started playing well again; it was a matter of getting through those close matches and winning them," Mirza said. "I've been working on my fitness - my weakness. I've been improving on a daily basis."

The Indian, who is unseeded this week, has three career Top 10 wins, something a No.2-ranked Sharapova may be mindful of when they square off on Friday.

"I played Sania a long time ago," said Sharapova, who won her only previous encounter with Mirza in straight sets, in the fourth round of the 2005 US Open. "She is playing really good tennis and is a dangerous opponent."

Joining Sharapova, Dementieva and Kirilenko in getting to the quarterfinals were No.3 seed Anna Chakvetadze, who defeated Ai Sugiyama, 64 64, and No.4 seed Nadia Petrova, a 63 76(10) winner over Katarina Srebotnik. Petrova rallied back from a 4-1 deficit in the second set and three set points down in the tie-break.

Late matches see Hingis exit, Williams progress

In the last match of the day session, No.11 seed Patty Schnyder made the round of eight for the third straight week with a 61 67(4) 63 upset win over No.7 seed Martina Hingis. Schnyder raced through the first set in just 26 minutes before allowing her compatriot to even the proceedings at a set apiece. Hingis led 3-1 in the decider but Schnyder used her crafty baseline game to grind out five games.

"It was a very tough match both physically and mentally, and I was happy to be just a little bit stronger," Schnyder said. "After the break in the third was when I thought, 'Okay, I can do this.' This is probably the best I've played this season. These kinds of wins are huge. I had a lot of forehand winners and was able to make those angles."

Venus Williams extended her Sony Ericsson WTA Tour win streak to 10 straight at night, crushing Daniela Hantuchova, 60 63. The No.10-seeded Williams, who won seven in a row to win her fourth Wimbledon title in July and has now won three rounds here, improved to 9-0 lifetime against Hantuchova, the No.6 seed here.

"I felt good out there," the American said. "I made less careless errors. I think it was the occasion of playing a higher-ranked player. I've been playing a lot of tennis. It's good to get matches and I'm getting better with each match."

In doubles, Chakvetadze and Victoria Azarenka became the first team to make the semis, ousting Golovin and Safina in straight sets, 62 64. The last round of 16 matches were also on the menu with Catalina Castaño and Tamarine Tanasugarn, Hsieh Su-Wei and Alla Kudryavtseva, and Vania King and Peng Shuai all reaching the quarterfinals. (WTA)