Belgium's Justine Henin continued her successful return to professional tennis with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Kazakhstan's Sesil Karatantcheva to enter the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International Wednesday. Andy Roddick maintained his steady buildup to this month's Australian Open with a workmanlike 7-6, 6-3 second round win over big-serving Australian Carsten Ball in the men's draw. James Blake recovered from a service break down in the deciding third set to defeat Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-3, 3-6, 7-6. Czech Radek Stepanek also survived a close shave before beating Ukranian qualifier Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. 5-7, 7-6, 6-2 while Czech Tomas Berdych demolished Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, 6-0, 6-1. In the women's event, Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova brushed aside the challenge of Hungary's Agnes Szavay 6-3, 6-1 while Czech Lucie Safarova disposed of Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak 6-3, 6-1 to join top seed Kim Clijsters in the last eight. Pennetta in quarters Top-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy reeled off five straight service breaks to beat Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-2 Wednesday and advance to the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic. Shahar Peer of Israel ignored a noisy demonstration by a small group protesting Israel's treatment of Palestinians to beat Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova 6-1, 6-0. Pennetta's opponent in the last eight will be Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova – a 6-3, 6-4 winner over France's Aravane Rezai. Former world No. 4 Kimiko Date Krumm, 39, had a surprise 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over fifth-seeded Virginie Razzano. Her next opponent will be third-seeded Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, who converted five of seven break points to beat Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania 6-2, 6-2. Maria Kirilenko of Russia beat Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-2, 6-3 to set up a quarterfinal against Peer. Fourth-seeded Francesca Schiavone of Italy beat Sania Mirza of India 6-0, 6-3. Sharapova wins Maria Sharapova pulled off a comeback win against Zheng Jie 6-7, 6-4, 6-2 at an exhibition match in Hong Kong Wednesday as the 22-year-old Russian sets her sights on the Australian Open later this month. The Hong Kong tournament features four teams with three players each – representing Russia, Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific – in singles and mixed doubles play. Russia's Vera Zvonareva, 25, easily overpowered Japanese newcomer Ayumi Morita, beating her 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour. Cilic bounces back Holder Marin Cilic of Croatia needed nearly three hours to come from a set down to beat Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 and reach the Chennai Open quarterfinals Wednesday. World No. 14 Cilic, the second seed, will next play Colombia's Santiago Giraldo after eventually overcoming world No. 91 Granollers. Giraldo beat Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2. In another second-round match, Serbian fourth seed Janko Tipsarevic brushed aside Indian wildcard and last year's runner-up Somdev Devvarman 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals where he will meet Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker.
