Osaka, Japan (SportsNetwork.com) - Third-seeded Samantha Stosur cruised into the quarterfinals of the Japan Women's Open on Wednesday, while second-seeded Sabine Lisicki withdrew from the tournament.
Stosur, the 2009 Osaka champion and 2011 runner-up, rolled to a 6-4, 6-2 win over Swiss qualifier Belinda Bencic. The Aussie broke serve five times and ripped off five aces in the 69-minute match.
The Wimbledon runner-up Lisicki had Wednesday off and was scheduled to face Slovenia's Polona Hercog in the second round Thursday, but pulled out with a left hip injury. Hercog will advance to the quarterfinals via a walkover and will meet Japanese wild card Kurumi Nara, a 7-5, 7-6 (7-4) winner Wednesday over eighth-seeded Monica Puig of Puerto Rico.
Fifth-seeded Canadian Eugenie Bouchard made quick work of Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum in a 6-2, 6-2 rout. She'll next take on Czech qualifier Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, who rallied for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over American lucky loser Vania King.
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