Clijsters reaches quarters

Swisscom Challenge, Zurich

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Top seed Kim Clijsters breezed into the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-2 win over Katarina Srebotnik.

Srebotnik, a qualifier, advanced to the second round when Mary Pierce retired but did not worry her Belgian opponent.

The Slovenian could only convert four of 12 game points, with Clijsters winning 12 of 14.

Clijsters is on course to meet compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final as the pair vye for the world number one spot.

Clijsters took the lead immediately, breaking for 1-0 when Srebotnik netted a forehand, and then she received the gift of a second break for 3-0 when Srebotnik double-faulted.

The only anxious moment for the Belgian came as she served for the set and fell behind 0-40, but she raised her game and closed out the set in 29 minutes.

The second set followed a similar pattern and the world number one again broke twice to lead 3-0.

She gave up just three points on serve in the rest of the match as she eased to a 57-minute victory.

Catastrophic. I am seriously upset. It was a very bad match for me, no excuses. Mauresmo on defeat to Schnyder

"I had to stop her playing her game and I played really well," said Clijsters.

"I broke twice in each set but the games were close, especially in the beginning, and we had some really great fun rallies out there.

"I felt like she did not give me many easy mistakes and I had to work for it and make sure I was playing well enough. But it is good to win matches like that."

Defending champion Patty Schnyder provided the shock of the day when she beat third-seed Amelie Mauresmo 6-2 6-2.

The Frenchwoman went tied the scores at 2-2 after a love service game before the local Swiss star went on a seven-game unbeaten streak to land the opener.

Mauresmo then only managed to hold her serve twice in the second, during a set which saw Schnyder go 4-0 up.

"Catastrophic," was how Mauresmo described the match. "I am seriously upset.

"It was a very bad match for me, no excuses. She played great and took her chances. I let her dictate the match. I made all the errors."

In the other matches, Russia's Elena Bovina beat Argentine Paula Suarez 6-4 6-3, while Slovenian Tina Pisnik bounced back from losing the first set to beat Ai Sugiyama of Japan 5-7 6-3 6-3.