Schiavone survives three set battle and advances on Day 3 in Osaka

All three seeded players in second round action Wednesday at the HP Open moved on, though one of them had to rebound from a second set collapse.

Fourth-seeded Francesca Schiavone survived a see-saw battle with Chan Yung-Jan, 63 06 63, to advance to the quarterfinals. After a routine first set, the Italian not only got bageled in the second, but lost the first two games of the third before gathering herself and winning six of the next seven games to secure the victory.

Next up for her is No.7 seed Melinda Czink, who raised her career record against Vania King to 3-0 with a 64 62 win. The Hungarian captured her first career Tour singles last month in Québec City.

Also Wednesday, Marion Bartoli and Sania Mirza were victorious to set up a quarterfinal showdown with each other. The second-seeded Bartoli, who is fighting for the last available spot in the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships - Doha 2009, routed wildcard Kurumi Nara, 61 61. Mirza defeated Viktoriya Kutuzova, 64 63.

Top seed and defending champion Caroline Wozniacki will be amongst those in action Thursday as second round play concludes.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Singles - Second Round

(2) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. (WC) Kurumi Nara (JPN) 61 61

(4) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. Chan Yung-Jan (TPE) 63 06 63

(7) Melinda Czink (HUN) d. Vania King (USA) 64 62

Sania Mirza (IND) d. Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR) 64 63