Dechy reaches Gold Coast quarters

GOLD COAST, Australia, Jan. 1 (UPI) -- Second seed Nathalie Dechy and No. 4 Elena Bovina ran into some resistance, but both advanced to the quarterfinals Wednesday at the Uncle Tobys Hardcourts.

Dechy was one game away from losing to local favorite Nicole Pratt before pulling out a 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory. The 29-year-old Frenchwoman next faces eighth-seeded Barbara Schett of Austria in the quarterfinals.

"I've never won against her so I think I will have nice day tomorrow to change it," Dechy said.

Bovina held off fellow Russian Nadia Petrova, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. The 19-year-old from Moscow will next take on Italian Tathiana Garbin, a 6-0, 6-4 winner over South African qualifier.

Sixth seed Meghann Shaughnessy of the United States defeated Lina Krasnoroutskaya of Russia, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6), despite twisting her ankle in the final moments of her victory.

Shaughnessy, who played with a heavily taped strained calf muscle, will undergo treatment on her ankle and expects to be ready to play top-seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland in the quarterfinals.