Kuznetsova too strong for Shaughnessy in Dubai

DUBAI, Feb 21 (Reuters) Third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova claimed a place in the Dubai Open quarter-finals with a 6-1 7-6 victory over American Meghann Shaughnessy today.

The Russian played a blistering opening set but was held up early in the second when she failed to take advantage of a number of break points.

''I missed some second serve returns because I was trying to be aggressive,'' Kuznetsova told reporters.

''She then started to serve very well and it was hard to read it but I played very well in the tiebreak.'' Sixth seed Patty Schnyder needed more than two hours to see off Australia's Alicia Molik 4-6 6-2 6-4.

''I didn't play great,'' said the Swiss, who was unhappy at playing on an outside court and only began to turn the match around after receiving a warning for smashing her racket in frustration at 2-2 in the second set.

''In the first set I could not concentrate at all. There was noise everywhere and it was too tough to focus.'' Eighth seed Daniela Hantuchova said there was nothing pretty about her 2-6 6-4 7-6 win over Russia's Maria Kirilenko.

''We both played great at some stages and also played horrible,'' said the Slovak.

In another long struggle, Eleni Daniilidou of Greece took two hours 37 minutes to beat Japan's Ai Sugiyama 5-7 6-1 7-5.

Reuters SAM RN2145