Myskina ousts Dokic

Myskina came from a set down to clinch her victory

 Thursday's Italian Open results

Russian Anastasia Myskina caused a big shock at the Italian Open coming from a set down to defeat defending champion Jelena Dokic.

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Myskina lost a fiercely contested first set but was too good for Dokic after that, winning 5-7 6-4 6-3.

The in-form 20-year-old, who beat Daniela Hantuchova in the first round, was overjoyed with her success.

"It's my best win ever. I was ready to beat a top player and it happened today," said the Muscovite who has put plans to be a fashion designer on hold.

She will now face Serena Williams who demolished Denisa Chladkova 6-1 6-2 on Thursday.

The fourth-seeded American was in top gear throughout, firing winners at the Czech from all over the court.

"Right now I'm feeling really good," said Williams, who reached her first clay court final at the German Open last week.

"I played really well today and I played well yesterday and I'm happy to be through to the quarters."

Capriati completed her victory over Mary Pierce in just 34 minutes

Her conqueror in Berlin, Justine Henin, also reached the last eight, easing past Anne Kremer of Luxembourg 6-2 6-4.

Fifth seed Henin was 5-2 up but was pegged back by Kremer before the Belgian served out the match at the second attempt.

French Open champion Jennifer Capriati defeated Mary Pierce 6-0 6-0.

Pierce, on her way back from a seven-month injury lay-off, was completely outclassed, losing the first set in only 12 minutes.

Capriati's next opponent is seventh seed Amelie Mauresmo who cruised into the last eight with a 6-0 6-2 demolition of Japan's Ai Sugiyama.

"Capriati is a player who is very strong and whenever she gets the opportunity she kills the point," said Mauresmo.

Kournikova struggled with her fitness

"You have to seize the occasion, but then again she isn't a machine."

But Anna Kournikova continues to struggle and complained of a groin injury as she went down 6-3 6-2 to Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual.

Number three seed Kim Clijsters was made to work hard for her place in the quarter-finals.

The Belgian lost a second set tie-break before regaining control in the final set against Russia's Tatiana Panova for a 6-3 6-7 6-1 win.

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Thursday's results (prefix denotes seeding)

Sandrine Testud (Fra,8) bt Silvia Farina Elia (Ita,9) 3-6 6-2 6-3

Kim Clijsters (Bel,3) bt Tatiana Panova (Rus,16) 6-3 6-7 6-1

Amelie Mauresmo (Fra,7) bt Ai Sugiyama (Jpn) 6-0 6-2

Virginia Ruano Pascual (Spa) bt Anna Kournikova (Rus) 6-3 6-2

Serena Williams (US,4) bt D Chladkova (Cze) 6-1 6-2

Justine Henin (Bel,5) bt A Kremer (Lux) 6-2 6-4

Jennifer Capriati (USA,2) bt Mary Pierce (Fra) 6-0 6-0

Anastasia Myskina (Rus) bt Jelena Dokic (Yug,6) 5-7 6-4 6-3

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