Wozniak into Cincinnati quarters

Aleksandra Wozniak moved into the quarter-finals of the Western & Southern Financial Group Open by defeating unseeded Ukrainian Julia Vakulenko 6-2 6-3.

Sixth seed Wozniak, 20, won the first title of her career in Stanford last month and has since moved from 85th in the rankings to a career-high of 39th - making her the Canadian No.1 by an overwhelming margin.

The only WTA player from that country currently ranked in the top 100, Wozniak became the first Canadian player since Jill Hetherington in 1988 to win a singles title and battled through qualifying to do it.

Because of her ascent into the top 40, Wozniak no longer needs to concern herself with the qualifying round, but may have to adjust to the idea of being a favourite.

With top seed Marion Bartoli and fourth seed Katarina Srebotnik having been upset, Wozniak is considered a candidate to emerge from her half of the draw.

Wozniak, who lost to Vakulenko in Las Vegas last year, will face unseeded Nathalie Dechy in the last eight.

A potential semi-final opponent for Wozniak, fifth seed Amelie Mauresmo defeated Yanina Wickmayer of Belarus 6-3 6-1 in a dominant performance.

A former world No.1 now ranked 35th, Mauresmo is trying to rebound from an injury-plagued 2007 season and win her first title in 18 months.

The victory sets up a quarter-final meeting with unseeded Vania King, who ousted wild card Jamea Jackson 6-1 6-4.

WTA Cincinnati Day 4 Results

Women's Singles Second Round
5-Amelie Mauresmo (France) def. Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium) 6-3 6-1
6-Aleksandra Wozniak (Canada) def. Julia Vakulenko (Ukraine) 6-2 6-3
Vania King (USA) def. Jamea Jackson (USA) 6-1 6-4