Sep 3, 2010, 19:45 GMT
New York - French Open finalist Samantha Stosur made more personal Grand Slam progress as the fifth-seeded Australian beat Italian Sara Errani 6-2, 6-3 to reach the last 16 at the US Open Friday.
The victory was Stosur's second over Errani in less than a week after winning a third-set tiebreak and saving four match points in New Haven.
Stosur has now made it into the third round or better at each of the four majors with a continuing career breakthrough which began last season with a Roland Garros semi.
'I'm really happy with that win. Since my first round I've played two really good matches now. I couldn't ask for much more,' said the Australian after winning her 42nd match of a busy season.
Stosur will play for the quarter-final against Russian 12th seed Elena Dementieva, who defeated Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-2.
Though rain from a weakening Atlantic hurricane has been mainly keeping away from New York, there was a brief weather interruption as Dementieva faced set points in the first set. The crisis was overcome upon their return, when Hantuchova's rhythm began to desert her.
Dementieva has now won 12 of 16 meetings in the series, including six of the last seven.
'I had a slow start but I was able to come back after 5-2 in the first set. That was the key to the match,' said the Russian, the losing finalist at Flushing meadows in 2004. 'I started to play more aggressive match, started to play much better tennis.
Dementieva stands 4-2 over Stosur, with the pair last playing in summer, 2009.
'It's always good to have a positive experience against a player, but it's gonna be different match,' said Dementieva. 'We haven't played for a long time, and Samantha really has improved her game a lot.
'She's playing very well this season, and is a very solid player with a huge serve. I expect a tough match against her.'
Second-seeded holder Kim Clijsters continued her sprint through the field with a 6-3, 6-0 thrashing of Czech Petra Kvitova.
The world number three Belgian who beat Caroline Wozniacki for the 2009 trophy, needs to win one more match at minimum to remain in the WTA top ten by the end of the event as her champion's points come off the computer.
On the men's side, there was another win for Frenchman Michael Llodra, who followed up his first-round upset of Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych with a defeat of Romanian Victor Hanescu 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, 6-2.
Spain's Tommy Robredo advanced as French opponent Julien Benneteau retired trailing 6-4, 6-6.
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