KUALA LUMPUR - Third seed Sabine Lisicki overcame gutsy Czech opponent Barbora Krejcikova in humid conditions Wednesday to advance to the next round of the Malaysian Open in a week that saw top players crashing out.
The 26-year-old Lisicki, who looked in fine form, beat Krejcikova 7-5, 6-3 in one hour and 45 minutes to go through to the quarter-finals. Earlier Slovakia's Kristina Kucova defeated seventh seed Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour and 50 minutes. Also advancing to the next round is Canada's sixth-seeded Eugenie Bouchard. Bouchard, 22, took just over one hour to dispose of Japan's Kurumi Nara 6-1, 6-2. China's Wang Qiang beat her compatriot Duan Ying-Ying 6-4, 6-4.
Two top stars had crashed out on Tuesday. Fourth seed Annika Beck of Germany, a two-time WTA Tour winner, went down to world number 95 Zarina Dyas of Kazakhstan 7-5, 6-3. Top seed and world number 10 Roberta Vinci of Italy was meanwhile sent crashing out by Taiwan's Chang Kai-Chen 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.