Maria Sharapova pulls out of Paris Open with a virus

The Russian second seed, who had a bye in the first round, was due to play Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States in the second round yesterday but was not well enough to take to the court.

Sharapova had missed her media commitments earlier in the week and only managed to train for ten minutes on Wednesday. Her withdrawal, along with a number of others before the tournament, increases the chances of victory for top seed Kim Clijsters, who only needs to reach the semi-finals to become world No 1 again.

In yesterday's matches, fourth-seed Petra Kvitova beat her fellow Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycov in a 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (11-9) thriller, while Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer beat another Czech, Klara Zakopalova, 6-1, 6-3.

In Thailand, Vera Zvonareva won her 12th straight match at the Pattaya Open by beating Thai qualifier Nungnadda Wannasuk 6-1, 7-5 in the second round.

The two-time defending champion won the first four games before Wannasuk shook off her nerves and held serve for the first time.

Zvonareva reeled off the next two games to take the opening set, and then took a 5-1 lead in the second before Wannasuk battled back to level it at 5-5.

Zvonareva regained her concentration to take a 6-5 lead and the 21-year-old Wannasuk double-faulted twice in the final game for the No 3-ranked Russian to complete the win in 76 minutes.

"When she started making her shots, I didn't play my game anymore," an unhappy Zvonareva said. "I just pushed the ball back and let her play the way she wanted to play. That's not how I wanted to approach this match." Zvonareva will play Peng Shuai of China in the quarter-finals.

Fourth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova booked her spot in the last eight with a hard-fought 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win over 40-year-old Japanese player Kimiko Date Krumm. "It was a great game," Hantuchova said. "She's been fighting for every point. A lot of young girls could take a lot from her. I really do admire her."

Hantuchova will face Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan, who beat Chanelle Scheepers 6-2, 6-4.