Schiavone ousted from Istanbul Cup

Istanbul, Turkey -- No. 1-seeded Francesca Schiavone was defeated in straight sets Thursday by Elena Baltacha in second-round play of the Istanbul Cup in Turkey.

Baltacha broke Schiavone's serve in the first game of each set in a 6-4, 6-2 victory. She totaled five breaks in the match and won more 53 percent of the points when Schiavone served.

Schiavone is 1-3 in matches since her stunning run to a French Open championship in early June.

Third-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova breezed past Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-2, despite five double faults and two service breaks Thursday. However, she piled up five breaks of Rybarikova.

Pavlyuchenkova draws Sorana Cirstea in Friday's quarterfinals. Cirstea topped Johanna Larsson 6-4, 6-4 on Thursday.

Also, Jarmila Groth made the quarters by beating Anna Lapushchenkova 6-2, 6-3 in 56 minutes. Groth piled up five breaks and saved both break-point chances she faced.

In addition to the Pavlyuchenkova-Cirstea match Friday, the quarterfinals have Baltacha playing sixth-seeded Andrea Petkovic, Groth going against Vera Dushevina and Elena Vesnina meeting Anastasia Rodionova.

Copyright 2010 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).

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