Bulgarian ousts Schnyder in Hobart

HOBART, Australia, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova knocked veteran WTA player Patty Schnyder out of Australia's Hobart International Sunday, posting a straight-set victory.

Pironkova cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 decision over the second-seeded Swiss player who won the tournament in 1998.

Czech Iveta Benesova eliminated the No. 8 seed, Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand, 7-5, 7-5 in another upset.

The seventh-seed, Alona Bondarenko of the Ukraine, outlasted Romania's Monica Niculescu 6-4, 2-6, 6-2. Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia rallied to defeat Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1

In the most one-sided match of the day, Czech Petra Kvitova shut out wild card Sally Peers 6-0, 6-0.

Italy's Flavia Pennetta is the event's top seed.