Estoril Open 2006 News and Events

Flavia Pennetta
© Wire Image

Top seed Flavia Pennetta continued on course for a fourth Sony Ericsson WTA Tour final this season, at the Estoril Open on Wednesday.

The Italian knocked out Maret Ani of Estonia 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 first match on Court Central for a place in the quarterfinal draw. It was Pennetta’s third straight victory over the Estonian.

Runner-up at Tier III events in Gold Coast, Bogota and Acapulco this season, the 24-year-old will next take on Greek Eleni Daniilidou.

Daniilidou secured her last eight berth with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over Mariana Diaz-Oliva of Argentina in their first career meeting on Centralito.

Second-seeded Gisela Dulko, the recent Indian Wells quarterfinalist, triumphed over Argentine compatriot Paola Suarez 6-2, 6-1.

Dulko converted seven of 11 break points, winning 67 of 31 points in the 61-minute match.

The 21-year-old now awaits the winner of China’s Na Li and Czech qualifier Katerina Bohmova, who play their second round match on Thursday.

Meanwhile Zuzana Ondraskova, ranked No. 93, beat Italian Antonella Serra Zanetti 6-2, 6-1, reversing their only previous meeting in Palermo four years ago.

Second-seeded Gisela Dulko competes against Argentine compatriot Paola Suarez later in the day.