Kuznetsova enters Portugal Open quarters

Lisbon, May 2 (IANS/RIA Novosti)

Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova has reached the quarterfinals of the Portugal Open tennis event, beating Kazakhstan’s Galina Voskoboeva.

Kuznetsova, the world No.45, converted four of her 10 break point opportunities on her way to a smooth 6-4, 6-4 victory Wednesday on clay in the Lisbon suburb of Oeiras.

In the quarterfinals, the 27-year-old faces Switzerland’s Romina Oprandi, who breezed past Shuai Peng 6-1, 6-3.

Reigning Portual Open champion Kaia Kanepi of Estonia converted each of her four break points to demolish Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour.

Kanepi faces either Japan’s Ayumi Morita or Urszula Radwanska of Poland in the quarterfinal.

The Portugal Open, formerly known as Estoril Open, holds a $235,000 purse.