DUBAI, Feb 18: Seven-times grand slam champion Venus Williams breezed into the quarter-finals of the Dubai Championships with a 6-3 6-2 victory over Frenchwoman Alize Cornet on Wednesday.

Virginie Razzano of France followed up her win over second seed Dinara Safina by beating Slovak Daniela Hantuchova 6-2 1-6 6-2 while holder Elena Dementieva of Russia put out Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-1 6-3.

Sixth seed Williams was always in control against Cornet and was especially dominant early in the second set, surrendering just two points in four games from 1-1.

Eighth-seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic put out Frenchwoman Camille Pin 6-2 7-6.

Fifth-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva advanced after Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli retired with blisters on both feet when trailing 5-2 in the first set.

Russian qualifier Elena Vesnina went through 4-6 6-1 4-0 when 12th-seeded Slovak Dominika Cibulkova retired through illness.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Serena and Venus Williams achieved contrasting victories while second seed Dinara Safina suffered a shock exit.

World number one Serena made the worst possible start against Italian Sara Errani, surrendering the first four games as she dropped the first set. The American, however, hit back in typically pugnacious style to win the second-round match 4-6 6-2 6-0.By contrast, sixth seed Venus took just 57 minutes to sweep aside Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-0 6-1.

Venus did not face a break point and fired seven aces on the way to her quickfire victory.

Holder Elena Dementieva, who lost to Amelie Mauresmo in the final of the Paris Open on Sunday, began her Dubai campaign with a 7-5 6-2 triumph over Austrian left-hander Sybille Bammer.

Dementieva is the number four seed this week.

Safina, who has reached two finals this year including the Australian Open, produced a wretched performance against Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano and was beaten 6-4 6-2.

The world number two from Russia looked completely out of touch and Razzano often had to do little more than wait for Safina to lose the point.

Results in the WTA Dubai Open women’s tournament

3rd rd: Vera Zvonareva (RUS x5) bt Marion Bartoli (FRA x11) 5-2 (retired); Venus Williams (USA x6) bt Alize Cornet (FRA x10) 6-3, 6-2; Elena Vesnina (RUS) bt Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x12) 4-6, 6-1, 4-0 (retired)

Del Potro, Serra score fine wins at Memphis tennis

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Feb 18: Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina advanced to the second round at the 1.22 million-dollar WTA and ATP hardcourt tournament here Tuesday with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) victory over Guillermo Canas.

Del Potro, who had a breakthrough season in 2008, he is seeking to add to his rapidly growing trophy case this week after a disappointing performance in his last appearance.

The second-seeded del Potro got off to a good start against Canas, who dropped to 0-3 lifetime against his countryman after falling victim in this one hour, 41 minute match.

Owner of five career titles, including his first event of the year in Auckland, the world number seven del Potro bounced back from a quarterfinal loss to American Mardy Fish last week in San Jose.

Del Potro blasted 11 aces and converted the only break of serve of the match in the first set to move into the second round, where he will face Ernests Gulbis.

The Latvia native defeated American Taylor Dent, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in his first round match.

Florent Serra of France provided the only big upset of the day, knocking off fourth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-7 (1/7), 6-2.

On the women’s side, top seed Caroline Wozniacki avenged a loss in the Australian Open to Jelena Dokic with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Australian qualifier.

Wozniacki is one of the WTA Tour’s rising stars following a career season in 2008 that saw the 18-year-old claim her first three titles and ascend to a career-best ranking of 12th.

After suffering a three-set loss in Melbourne to the 25-year-old Dokic, who was once ranked as high as fourth in the world in 2002 before being inactive in recent years due to injuries and personal problems, Wozniacki returned the favor in the opening round at Memphis in only 48 minutes.

The Denmark native will face Frenchwoman Severine Bremond, who defeated Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, 6-4, 6-0, in the second round.

Men’s singles first round results

Christophe Rochus (Belgium) beat Donald Young (U.S.) 6-4

6-3; Florent Serra (France) beat 4-Robin Soderling (Sweden) 6-4

6-7(1) 6-2; Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) beat Kei Nishikori (Japan) 7-5 6-3; Ernests Gulbis (Latvia) beat Taylor Dent (U.S.) 6-4 3-6 6-2

Women’s singles 2nd round results

2-Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) beat Stephanie Cohen-Aloro

(France) 6-2, 6-2; Michaella Krajicek (Netherlands) beat Kristina Barrois

(Germany) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(0); 5-Marina Erakovic (New Zealand) beat Melanie Oudin (U.S.) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. – AFP

Frenchman shocks Safin at Marseille Open

MARSEILLE, Feb 18: Former world number one Marat Safin was eliminated in the first round of the Marseille Open on Tuesday, losing 4-6 6-3 6-2 to Frenchman Arnaud Clement.

Despite serving 18 aces the seventh seed from Russia failed to match Clement’s pace from the baseline and bowed out after one hour 54 minutes.

World number 78 Clement next meets German Mischa Zverev for a place in the quarter-finals.

Later on Tuesday, second-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon plays 17-year-old Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. – Reuters

First round results:

Arnaud Clement (France) beat 7-Marat Safin (Russia) 4-6 6-3

6-2; Julien Benneteau (France) beat Fabrice Santoro (France) 4-6

6-4 6-2; Simone Bolelli (Italy) beat Richard Bloomfield (Britain) 7-6(5)

7-6(1); Andreas Seppi (Italy) beat Jerzy Janowicz (Poland) 7-6(5) 3-6

7-6(3); Mischa Zverev (Germany) beat Illya Marchenko (Ukraine) 6-7(5)

6-3 6-4; Rainer Schuettler (Germany) beat Laurent Recouderc (France) 6-1 6-4