16 April,2009 08:52 AM IST | | PA Sport
Maria Kirilenko's defence of her Barcelona Ladies Open title remains on course following a straight sets 7-5 6-2 win over Severine Bremond yesterday.
The Russian sixth seed breezed through her second-round encounter and will now play Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, the woman she beat to win last year's title, in a quarter-final tomorrow.
Sanchez battled through to the last eight after she defeated first round lucky loser Masa Zec Peskiric 7-5 5-7 6-2. Second seed Flavia Pennetta meekly bowed out of the tournament to fellow Italian, Roberta Vinci 6-1 6-2.
Vinci will next meet Belarusian Anastasiya Yakimova.
