Kvitova keeps up the good work in Linz

PETRA Kvitova eased past Austria’s Patricia Mayr-Archleitner 6-2, 6-3 last night at the Generali Ladies in Linz, to reach her second quarter-final since winning Wimbledon.

The top-seeded Czech player, ranked a career-high fourth, had a shaky start as she dropped serve to love early in the opening set but soon took control of the match.

Kvitova, who reached the semi-finals in Tokyo last month, will play former champion Daniela Hantuchova or Ksenia Pervak in the quarter-finals.

Jelena Jankovic earlier rallied to defeat Britain’s Anne Keothavong 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the last eight. The former No 1 won just one service game in the opening set but dominated the match from that point on. The third-seeded Serb will now face Russian qualifier Evgeniya Rodina for a place in the semi-finals.

Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia threw away a 5-1 lead in the first set before beating Italy’s Sara Errani 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, 6-1.

In other second-round play, Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic defeated Italy’s Alberta Brianti 6-4, 6-2 without facing a break point. In her sixth quarter-final of the season, Safarova will take on Sorana Cirstea of Romania.