ZURICH, Switzerland, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- No. 2-seeded Maria Sharapova posted a straight-set victory but injury led world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo to withdraw from Switzerland's $1.34 million Zurich Open.
Mauresmo, from France, Wednesday battled through a shoulder injury, which caused service problems. She decided not to continue Thursday, giving Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova a walkover into Saturday's semifinals.
Sharapova, from Russia, was a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) winner over Israel's Shahar Peer on Thursday and for Friday's quarterfinals draws local favorite Timea Bacsinszky, a qualifier who advanced when Italy's Francesca Schiavone withdrew due to a leg injury.
Also Thursday, third-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova topped Serbia's Jelena Jankovic 7-6 (8-6), 7-5, to set up a quarterfinal match with fifth-seeded Martina Hingis, another Swiss player.
The other quarterfinal Friday sends unseeded Russian Maria Kirilenko against Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik, who stopped fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva, from Russia, 6-1, 6-4.
The tournament continues through Sunday with the winner pocketing $196,900.
