In another upset, Russian sixth-seed Vera Zvonareva went out
in straight sets, 6-4 6-3, to Italian Flavia Pennetta as the sunshine returned
after Wednesday's rain.
Dane Wozniacki was 4-3 up in the first set but then Bartoli
rallied to claim the opening frame and then dominated the second where she won
14 of 16 first-serve points.
Serbia's Ana Ivanovic again looked in good form as she confidently
defeated Russia's Elena Vesnina 6-0, 6-3.
Ivanovic could face compatriot and top-seeded Jelena
Jankovic in the last eight, if Jankovic can get past Uzbek qualifier Akgul
Amanmuradova.
Exhausted Djokovic scrapes by in Toronto Masters
In Toronto, second
seed Novak Djokovic had to overcome sweltering heat and determined Frenchman
Julien Benneteau to claim a gritty 7-5, 7-5 win at the Toronto Masters on
Wednesday and a spot in the third round.
By the end of the match, which lasted a little more than two
hours, an exhausted Djokovic was slumped over the net and gasping for breath.
"I have said before, I will never risk my health to win
and I was really on the edge," Djokovic, who has struggled with
heat-related issues throughout his career, told reporters.
"If your body gives you signs that something bad is
going on you have to do something ... no one can turn off the sun and do me a
favour even though I would like it."
Briton Andy Murray followed the Serb on center court and,
after a slow start, sped past Belgian Xavier Malisse 7-5, 6-2.
It was a positive start for Murray, who needs a good result
in Toronto to keep Swede Robin Soderling from replacing him as world No. 4.
After falling behind 3-1 in the first set Murray broke to
make it 5-5 and never looked back, sweeping nine of the last 11 games including
the final four to close out the match.
"I guess I got better as the match went on,"
Murray told reporters. "He was playing very well at the start and I needed
to get a bit more energy into my performance.
"Sometimes when you aren't feeling your best you need
to force yourself to move."
A winner on the Canadian hardcourts in 2007, Djokovic
appeared uncomfortable the moment he stepped onto the court and eventually
summoned for the trainer after going down a break in the second set.
Struggling for air, Djokovic appeared ready to throw in the
towel but hung on as Benneteau kept up the pressure.
Desperate to keep the match from going to a third set, a
faltering Djokovic finally finished off his French opponent on the fifth match
point with an overhead slam. He will face Romania's Victor Hanescu in the third
round.
Sixth seed Nikolai Davydenko of Russia had smooth passage
into the third round easing past Italian Fabio Fognini 7-5, 6-1 while 15th
seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils disposed of The Netherlands' Thiemo De Bakker 7-5,
6-3.
Russian 12th seed Mikhail Youzhny was eliminated after a 1-6,
7-6, 7-5 loss to Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov. He was joined at the exit by
14th seed Nicolas Almagro of Spain who was swept aside 7-6, 6-2 by Frenchman
Michael Llodra.
Argentine David Nalbandian continued his impressive run
since returning from a hamstring injury racking up his 10th straight win
crushing Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-0.
