Goerges advances in Luxembourg

LUXEMBOURG, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Julia Goerges won in straight sets Wednesday and is the first seeded player to reach the quarterfinals of the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open tennis tournament.

Goerges, the No. 6 seed, defeated Tamira Paszek 6-4, 6-2. With four service breaks against Paszek, Goerges had nine breaks in 18 receiving games over two matches in Luxembourg.

Monica Niculescu earned a spot in the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-1 win over Anabel Medina Garrigues, getting three of her six breaks on the day in the third set.

Also, Iveta Benesova was given a second-round walkover when seventh-seeded Maria Kirilenko was unable to play due to an ankle injury.

No. 1-seeed Victoria Azarenka opened her tournament with a 6-2, 6-4 first-round win over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. Fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic defeated Virginie Razzano 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 but Anastasija Sevastova eliminated fourth-seeded Flavia Pennetta 6-3, 6-2 in other opening-round matches.

Also in the first round, Simona Halep topped Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-4, 7-5 and Bibiane Schoofs got by Angelique Kerber 2-6, 6-2, 6-1.