Dementieva reaches Kremlin Cup quarters

Oct 8, 2008 - 8:27 PM MOSCOW (Ticker) -- Defending champion Elena Dementieva is on her way to keeping the Kremlin Cup in Russia.

The third-seeded Russian, who received a first-round bye, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Tier I hardcourt event on Wednesday with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2) victory over Slovenian qualifier Katarina Srebotnik.

Dementieva, who defeated Serena Williams in the final here last season, can keep the championship trophy on home soil for the fifth time in six years if she can repeat.

Another former champion was not so lucky as eighth-seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze was ousted, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, by Caroline Wozniacki.

A champion here two years ago, Chakvetadze dropped to 0-2 against the 18-year-old Dane and fell to 27-21 this year - a marked contrast from her 59-win season a year ago.

Wozniacki, who won the Japan Open on Sunday, will have to face another Russian in the second round as 2006 runner-up Nadia Petrova moved through with a 6-2, 6-1 win over compatriot Anna Lapushchenkova.

Ana Ivanovic's slump continued, as the fourth seed was sent packing by Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova, who reached the quarters with a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) triumph.

Ivanovic won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open and subsequently became the world No. 1, but the Serb is just 5-6 since and has dropped to fifth in the rankings.

While Ivanovic's struggles continued, second-seeded Russian Dinara Safina continued to build on her breakthrough season, reaching the quarterfinals with a 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-4 win over former No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo.

Since starting the season 11-10, the 22-year-old has won four titles, compiled a 43-6 record and reached seven finals.

Fifth-seeded countrywoman Svetlana Kuznetsova is up next for Safina after pushing past Italy's Sara Errani, 7-6 (7-0), 6-1.

Safina leads the series with Kuznetsova, 6-4, but has won all three meetings this season, including a victory in the Tokyo final last month.

First prize is $196,900.