Thu Oct 25 15:56:15 2007

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Hantuchova, Bartoli lead charge into Linz quarters

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Linz, Austria (Sports Network) - Second-seeded Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova and Wimbledon runner-up Marion Bartoli of France were among Thursday's second- round winners at the $600,000 Generali Ladies Linz women's tennis event.

Hantuchova handled Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-3, 6-1, while the third-seeded Bartoli blew past rising Austrian teenager Tamira Paszek 6-2, 6-1 on the indoor hardcourt at Intersport Arena.

Two other seeds eased into the quarterfinals, as No. 5 Czech Nicole Vaidisova drilled wild card and Austrian favorite Yvonne Meusburger 6-3, 6-1 and No. 6 Swiss Patty Schnyder dismissed Aussie qualifier Alicia Molik 6-4, 6-4. The lefthanded Schnyder was a finalist here two years ago.

In other Day-4 play, Ukrainian Julia Vakulenko pasted Japan's Ai Sugiyama 6-0, 6-2 and another woman from Ukraine, Alona Bondarenko, erased Greek Eleni Daniilidou 6-4, 6-3. Sugiyama titled here back in 2003.

Friday's quality quarters will pit top-seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze against Schnyder, Hantuchova versus Bondarenko, Bartoli against Vakulenko and fourth-seeded Russian Dinara Safina versus Vaidisova.

The 2007 Linz titlist will collect $88,265.