Hantuchova loses in WTA event in Thailand

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PATTAYA, Thailand, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Two-time defending champion Daniela Hantuchova was defeated during her second match Thursday at the PTT Pattaya Open tennis tournament in Thailand.

Hantuchova was among the players who had first-round matches suspended by rain Tuesday and were unable to play Wednesday due to the weather. That led organizers to squeeze in those matches along with the entire second round into Thursday's schedule.

Hantuchova won her first match Thursday 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 over Olga Puchkova in a relatively quick 96 minutes. But Nina Bratchikova built a 6-2, 3-0 lead on Hantuchova when Hantuchova couldn't continue and retired.

The other two players who finished first-round matches Thursday advanced to the quarterfinals.

Ayumi Morita, leading 2-1 in the third set, won four of the six games Thursday for an upset of No. 1-seeded Ana Ivanovic. She came back for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Kimiko Date-Krumm in about 2 hours. Morita cashed in seven of her nine break chances over the last two sets.

Seventh-seeded Elena Vesnina beat Eleni Daniilidou 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in a first-round match before taking a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 decision over Mathilde Johansson in a 2 1/2-hour, second-round match.

No. 2-seeded Maria Kirilenko got past Luksika Kumkhum 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 and Marina Erakovic beat Varatchaya Wongteanchai 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) eliminating the last two Thai players from the tournament.

Fourth-seeded Sorana Cirstea beat Anastasia Rodionova 6-0, 7-6 (7-3) and No. 5-seeded Sabine Lisicki was a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Alexandra Panova in her second-round match but Anastasija Sevastova upset eighth-seeded Heather Watson 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-2.