Sharapova beats fellow Russian in three sets to get to quarters, along with two surviving Top 10 seeds on Day 4 in Tokyo

No. 7 seed Jelena Jankovic and No. 8 seed Victoria Azarenka, who were the only seeds left in the top 10, easily reserved a spot for themselves in the quarterfinals, while Maria Sharapova went to the three sets against Alisa Kleybanova to advance on Day 4 in Tokyo.

Jankovic didn't have to finish her match against opponent Elena Vesnina, as the Serb was leading 61 3-0 when the Russian was struck with a left thigh strain and had to retire from the match.

Azarenka dismissed Lucie Safarova in straight sets with a score of 75 64 to get to the quarters.

No. 14 seed Marion Bartoli rallied from a set down against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to win with a score of 46 62 75.

Sharapova also came back from a set down to oust compatriot Kleybanova with a score of 26 62 62.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Singles – Third Round

(7) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 61 30 ret. (left thigh strain)

(8) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 75 64

(11) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (Q) Andrea Petkovic (GER) 64 36 63

(14) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. (Q) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 46 62 75

(15) Li Na (CHN) d. (Q) Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) 26 75 63

Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 26 62 62

Iveta Benesova (CZE) d. (Q) Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) 75 62

Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) 16 63 63

After losses of another seeded trio on Day 3, Top 6 seeds are all out

A day after the No. 1, 2 and 5 seeds lost, the No. 3, 4 and 6 seeds followed the same fate on Tuesday at the Toray Pan Pacific Open, while Maria Sharapova continued her run after crushing her 12th seeded opponent in straight sets.

No. 3 seed Elena Dementieva faced Kateryna Bondarenko in the second round, and fell to the Ukrainian with a score of 62 67(3) 61.

No. 4 seed Caroline Wozniacki fell for a different reason, as the Dane suffered a viral illness being down 0-5 against Aleksandra Wozniak.

No. 6 seed Vera Zvonareva lost to Alisa Kleybanova in three sets, 36 64 62.

Kleybanova will next face Sharapova, who easily cruised past Samantha Stosur, 60 61.

"I just try to improve as each tournament goes, playing one match at a time and focusing on the task ahead," Sharapova said. "When you don't play well you have to learn to get better. It's the first time I've had to make adjustments to my game and relearn the things that usually came so automatically. I want to finish the season on a good note."

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Singles – Second Round

(Q) Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. (3) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 62 67(3) 61

Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. (4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 50 ret. (viral illness)

Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) d. (6) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 36 64 62

(7) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. Sabine Lisicki (GER) 63 46 62

(8) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Zheng Jie (CHN) 61 61

Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (12) Samantha Stosur (AUS) 60 61

Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. (13) Nadia Petrova (RUS) 62 62

(14) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Aravane Rezai (FRA) 64 62

(15) Li Na (CHN) d. Vera Dushevina (RUS) 75 60

Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. Roberta Vinci (ITA) 61 76(6)

Iveta Benesova (CZE) d. Gisela Dulko (ARG) 63 36 64

Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. Peng Shuai (CHN) 63 46 64

Qualifiers oust top seeds on Day 2 in Tokyo

Many top seeds in Tokyo, Japan were surprisingly ousted, as No. 1 seed Dinara Safina, No. 2 seed Venus Williams and No. 5 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova were all sent flying home after ugly losses.

Safina, who was the defending champion, didn't show anything impressive in her debut match against 18-year-old Chang Kai-Chen, as the Chinese won in three sets, 76(5) 46 75.

Williams fell to another teenager, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, in two tough sets, 76(6) 75.

Kuznetsova was dismissed by Andrea Petkovic in three sets, with a score of 75 46 63.

Maria Sharapova was able to stay out of the loser's list, as she survived a battle against Francesca Schiavone to win with a score of 46 75 61, despite being down 2-4 in the second set.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Singles – Second Round

(Q) Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) d. (1/WC) Dinara Safina (RUS) 76(5) 46 75

(Q) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. (2) Venus Williams (USA) 76(6) 75

(Q) Andrea Petkovic (GER) d. (5) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 75 46 63

Singles – First Round

(11) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 75 63

(12) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. (Q) Alexa Glatch (USA) 75 60

(13) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (WC) Ai Sugiyama (JPN) 60 21 ret. (GI illness)

(14) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 63 60

Iveta Benesova (CZE) d. (16) Virginie Razzano (FRA) 36 76(5) 60

Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. (Q) Jill Craybas (USA) 63 63

Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 46 75 61

Zheng Jie (CHN) d. (Q) Sania Mirza (IND) 57 62 63

Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. (WC) Kimiko Date Krumm (JPN) 57 76(2) 64

Vera Dushevina (RUS) d. Alona Bondarenko (UKR) 16 75 61

Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. (Q) Urszula Radwanska (POL) 64 64

Peng Shuai (CHN) d. Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 63 63

(Q) Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 63 61

Sunday, September 27, 2009: Results for Tashkent Open

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Singles - Final
(2) Shahar Peer (ISR) d. Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) 63 64

Go lower for article about the final at Hansol Korea Open