Russians progress at Indian Wells

Veteran Likhovtseva battled through to meet Kuznetsova

Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova eased into the third round of the Pacific Life Open on Saturday.

Second-seeded Kuznetsova beat Italy's Romina Oprandi 7-5 6-3 after fourth seed Petrova sunk Argentina's Gisela Dulko 6-3 6-4 in Indian Wells.

Kuznetsova, the 2004 US Open champion, won in just under an hour and a half and next meets compatriot and tour veteran Elena Likhovtseva.

Likhovtseva had earlier upset Olga Poutchkova, the 26th seed, 7-6 6-2.

Elsewhere, Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues, the 24th seed, lost 6-3 5-7 6-4 to Australia's Alicia Molik and French 27th seed Severine Bremond went out 6-3 7-6 to American Laura Granville.

French 13th seed Tatiana Golovin knocked out Japan's Aiko Nakamura 6-0 7-5 and Serbia's Ana Ivanovic, the 10th seed, brushed aside American Vania King 6-3 6-0.

Petrova, who piled up five WTA titles in 2006 on her way to a career-high ranking of third, made relatively light work of Dulko, who had beaten her twice in three previous encounters.

The 24-year-old Moscow native broke her opponent once in the opening set and three times in the second to ease through to the third round.

"I've struggled with her in the past and she's a really good counter-puncher and very fast about the court," Petrova said.

"But I competed very well at the end, served better and was able to play a lot more aggressively."