Top seed Alexandra Dulgheru and second seed Akgul Amanmuradova were upset in the quarterfinals of the Tashkent Open. At the other tournament played this week, Hansol Korea Open, top seed Nadia Petrova advanced to the quarterfinals, and defending champion Kimiko Date Krumm upset second seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Dulgheru lost to fellow Romanian Monica Niculescu 7-6(5) 2-6 6-3, while Alla Kudryavtseva, runner-up at Guangzhou during the weekend, defeated local favorite and two-time finalist Amanmuradova 7-6(5) 6-3.
At the Hansol Korea Open, Petrova rallied from 0-3 in the second set to defeat Vania King 6-3 6-4. Date Krumm, who will soon turn 40, played 20 years younger Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and defeated her 6-2 6-1 in the second round.
Former world No.1 Dinara Safina also advanced in Seoul, with a 6-2 6-3 victory over third seed Maria Kirilenko. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)
Hope that Alexandra Dulgheru will be able to qualify in the next tournaments and will play her best game. Nedia Petrova is awesome. I don’t miss any match of him.