Sania reaches Japan Open quarter-finals

Osaka: Sania Mirza became the first player to reach the quarter-finals of the Japan Open on Wednesday, beating Viktoriya Kutuzova of Ukraine in straight sets.

The 22-year-old Mirza, who won the Australian Open mixed doubles with Mahesh Bhupathi this season, took advantage of a rash of double faults from Kutuzova on her way to a 6-4, 6-3 win.In the last eight on Friday, Mirza will play the 2006 champion, Marion Bartoli of France, seeded second. Bartoli, battling for the final spot in the season-ending championships, thumped Japanese wild card Kurumi Nara 6-1, 6-1 in just 61 minutes. In other second-round action, fourth seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy had an unconvincing 6-3, 0-6, 6-3 win over Chan Yung-jan of Taiwan.Seventh seed Melinda Czink of Hungary hit seven aces and seven double faults in beating Vania King of the United States 6-4, 6-2. Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, the top seed and runner-up at the US Open, was due to play Katie O`Brien of Britain on Thursday. Bureau Report