Pavlyuchenkova knocks off Pe’er in Cincy’s 3rd round

Shahar Pe’er lost to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (25) in the third round at the Cincinnati Women’s Open.

By ALLON SINAI, AP
311_Shahar Peer in red (photo credit: Associated Press)
311_Shahar Peer in red
(photo credit: Associated Press)
Shahar Pe’er lost to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (25) in the third round at the Cincinnati Women’s Open on Thursday.
Pe’er beat Nuria Llagostera Vives (154) 6-3, 6-2 in the second round late Wednesday night, but was bested 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 by the Russian in a tensely- fought battle.
Pavlyuchenkova will play Yanina Wickmayer in the quarterfinals with the Belgian claiming a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) win over eighth-seeded Li Na of China.
Also in the third round, Marion Bartoli of France won eight straight games on her way to beating secondseeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-4, 6-1.
Flavia Pennetta of Italy knocked out sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia in the third round 6-4, 6-3.
Former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic continued her impressive run with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Elena Vesnina of Russia. The 62ndranked Ivanovic has beaten three higher- ranked opponents to reach the quarterfinals.
Wozniacki had won six straight matches and was leading 4-3 in the first set before Bartoli got going and won the last three games of that set and five more to take control.
Earlier Wednesday, US Open champion Kim Clijsters beat former No. 1- ranked Dinara Safina 7-5, 6-2 in a raininterrupted second round match.
Clijsters match was stopped for almost an hour after the first three games.
Sixth-seeded Vera Zvonareva had it tougher, waiting through two rain delays totaling 3 hours and 28 minutes before finally overcoming Maria Kirilenko 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (3).
French Open champion Francesca Schiavone was upset by Elena Vesnina 6-4, 6-4. After taking the first three games of the match, Schiavone dropped six of the next seven to lose the first set.