French Open finalist Samantha Stosur reached the quarter-finals of the Eastbourne International Wednesday after a struggling comeback win over Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
Fifth seed Kim Clijsters beat Czech Lucie Safarova a 6-1, 6-0 as the Belgian played for the first time in seven weeks after a foot injury. Stosur has reached the quarters or better at her last six events and will be aiming Thursday to repeat her 2008 semifinal showing on the English south coast.
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus ended the dream run of Florida-trained British teenager Heather Watson with a 6-1, 6-1 schooling of the 18-year-old. Elena Makarova beat fellow Russian Nadia Petrova 6-2, 6-0.
On the ATP side, French seeds doubled up for 2nd-round wins, with Julien Benneteau putting out Israeli Dudi Sela 7-6 (8), 7-5 and Michael Llodra struggling past countryman Stephane Robert 6-1, 6-7 (7), 6-4. — AFP