Wed Oct 22 14:27:36 2008

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Hantuchova, Mauresmo advance; Chakvetadze loses in Luxembourg

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Luxembourg, Luxembourg (Sports Network) - Last year's runner-up Daniela Hantuchova and former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo posted wins, while second- seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze went by way of the upset Wednesday at the $225,000 Luxembourg Championships.

The third-seeded Hantuchova humbled German Sabine Lisicki 6-0, 6-2, while Chakvetadze succumbed to Czech Iveta Benesova 6-2, 6-4 in the second round on the indoor hardcourts at CK Sport Kockelscheuer. The Slovakian Hantuchova lost to Serb Ana Ivanovic in last year's finale here.

A fifth-seeded Mauresmo, of France, notched a first-round victory by outlasting German qualifier Stephanie Gehrlein 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.

In other second-round action, fourth-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki handled Chinese Shuai Peng 6-4, 6-4, sixth-seeded Chinese Na Li topped Ukrainian Mariya Koryttseva 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 and Romanian Sorana Cirstea whipped Italian Sara Errani 6-4, 6-2. Li will face Benesova in Friday's quarterfinals, while Cirstea will lock horns with Hantuchova.

In other first-round play on Day 3, seventh-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues pasted fellow Spaniard Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-2, 6-1 and German Anna-Lena Groenefeld bested Belgian wild card Yanina Wickmayer 7-5, 6-4.

On Thursday, top-seeded Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva of Russia will take on Argentine Gisela Dulko and Mauresmo will meet Groenefeld in the round of 16.

The 2008 Luxembourg titlist will pocket $35,000.