DOHA, Qatar, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- After consecutive days of upsets, all three seeded players in action Thursday advanced in the second round of the Qatar Women's Open.
Fifth-seeded Russian Elena Likhovtseva and seventh seed Conchita Martinez cruised to straight-sets wins while No. 8 Nicole Pratt of Australia needed three sets to move into the quarterfinals.
Likhovtseva cruised past Uzbekistan's Iroda Tulyaganova, 6-1, 6-4, and Martinez routed British qualifier Lucie Ahl, 6-0, 6-2.
Martinez next faces Russian wild card Lina Krasnoroutskaya. Likhovtseva meets third-seeded Bulgarian Magdalena Maleeva.
Krasnoroutskaya ousted top seed and defendng champion Monica Seles on Wednesday.
Pratt advanced to a quarterfinal meeting against Patricia Wartusch by recording a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Indonesian Angelique Widjaja.
Wartusch, who ousted fourth seed Tamarine Tansugarn on Tuesday, beat Venezuela's Maria Vento-Kabchi, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4.
