Early exit for Chakvetadze

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:06

Chakvetadze had a year to remember in 2007, capturing four titles, winning 59 matches and reaching the US Open semi-finals.

This season has been a different story, however, as the 21-year-old has just one title and is 27-23 following Wednesday’s setback.

Since finishing as runner-up at New Haven in August, the 12th-ranked Chakvetadze has been in steady decline.

She has won just twice in eight attempts following that performance, including a first-round loss to 47th-ranked Ekaterina Makarova at the US Open.

Benesova, winless on the WTA Tour since claiming her only title at Acapulco four years ago, will face sixth seed Na Li of China in the quarter-finals.

Third seed Daniela Hantuchova has also struggled during the second half of the season, but appears to be regaining her form after crushing Germany’s Sabine Lisicki 6-0 6-2 in the second round. The 25-year-old Slovakian, a semi-finalist at the Australian Open in January, is just 10-12 since returning from a foot injury in June.

Hantuchova will attempt to continue her upward trend when she takes on eighth seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania in the quarters. The 18-year-old Cirstea, a 6-4 6-2 winner over Italian Sara Errani, is making her first main draw appearance since claiming her maiden title earlier this month at the Tier IV Tashkent event.

Another teenager booking her spot in the last eight was fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki, who beat Peng Shuai 6-4 6-4. Wozniacki, 18, is enjoying a breakthrough season highlighted by her first three titles. The 16th-ranked Dane will face either seventh seed Anabel Medina Garrigues or Catalina Castano in the quarter-finals.

In the remaining first-round match, former world number one Amelie Mauresmo battled past German qualifier Stephanie Gehrlein 6-2 3-6 6-0. It was a much-needed win for the 29-year-old Frenchwoman, who is just 2-4 since reaching the fourth round of the US Open.

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