Tokyo, February 2:

Top-seeded Maria Sharapova cruised past American Lisa Raymond 6-4, 6-4 to join Martina Hingis in the Pan Pacific Open quarter-finals. Sharapova, who opened her title defence after a first-round bye, will face Samantha Stosur of Australia, who beat sixth seed Daniela Hantuchova 7-6 (5), 6-2.

Also advancing is fourth-seeded Anastasia Myskina of Russia, who defeated the Czech Republic’s Klara Koukalova 6-4, 6-4.

Hingis recovered from a slow start but bounced back for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over third-seeded Nathalie Dechy of France.

Former world No 1 Hingis took control in the second set and then broke Dechy’s serve in the final game of the third set to close out the match in 2 hours, 8 minutes.

Russian Maria Kirilenko beat Ana Ivanovic of Serbia-Montenegro, 6-4, 6-4.

Delray International

DELRAY BEACH: Andre Agassi survived two match points against Ramon Delgado of Paraguay and ralled for a 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 second-round win at the Delray Beach Championships.

The top-seeded Agassi’s forehand seemed to bother him throughout the first two sets, and Delgado, ranked 129th, recorded 15 aces.

Defending champion Xavier Malisse of Belgium had little trouble notching his 18th win in the tournament, accounting for Justin Gimelstob of the United States 6-2, 7-5.

Sixth-seeded Florian Mayer of Germany also advanced by beating Oliver Marach of Austria, 7-5, 6-3.