KUALA LUMPUR: Third seed Sabine Lisicki overcame gutsy Czech opponent Barbora Krejcikova in humid conditions Wednesday to advance to the next round of the Malaysian Open in a week that saw top players crashing out.

The 26-year-old Lisicki, who looked in fine form, beat Krejcikova 7-5, 6-3 in one hour and 45 minutes to go through to the quarterfinals.

Earlier Slovakia’s Kristina Kucova defeated seventh seed Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in one hour and 50 minutes.

Also advancing to the next round is Canada’s sixth-seeded Eugenie Bouchard.

Bouchard, 22, took just over one hour to dispose of Japan’s Kurumi Nara 6-1, 6-2.

China’s Wang Qiang beat her compatriot Duan Ying-Ying 6-4, 6-4.

Two top stars had crashed out on Tuesday. Fourth seed Annika Beck of Germany, a two-time WTA Tour winner, went down to world number 95 Zarina Dyas of Kazakhstan 7-5, 6-3.

On Tuesday, top seed Roberta Vinci was knocked out of the first round after losing to Taiwan’s Kai-Chen Chang 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

The 33-year-old Italian, ranked 10th in the world and eyeing her second WTA tour title of the season, succumbed to a player with a world ranking of 153.

In an earlier first-round match, second seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine easily dispatched Japan’s Miyu Kato in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.

China’s Zhaoxuan Yang, seeded eighth, beat her fellow countrywoman Saisai Zheng 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

On Monday Eugenie Bouchard had an easy win over Hong Kong’s Zhang Ling, 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the second round.

Venus ends Indian Wells boycott

Venus Williams will end her 15-year boycott of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells next week, following in the footsteps of sister Serena who returned to the event last year.

The 35-year-old former world number one has not played the prestigious Californian event since 2001, when she and Serena were booed by sections of the crowd.

Her father Richard Williams has long alleged the family was subjected to repeated racial slurs after Venus withdrew from a semifinal against Serena due to a knee injury.

Explaining her decision to return to the tournament in a commentary on The Players Tribune website, Williams said the criticism directed at her family had left a lasting mark on her.

“I remember the pain of my knee injury, and how badly I wanted to play in the semis against Serena — before finally accepting that I wouldn’t be able to,” Venus wrote.

“I remember the accusations toward me and my sister and our father. I remember the crowd’s reaction, as I walked to my seat, during Serena’s match in the final. And I remember how I couldn’t understand why thousands of people would be acting this way — to a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old, trying their best.

“There are certain things where, if you go through them at a certain age, you simply don’t forget them.”

Venus said she had been prompted to return after seeing the warm reception her sister received last year, when she was given a 57-second standing ovation before her opening match on Stadium Court.

“It was in that moment, seeing Serena welcomed with open arms last year at Indian Wells, that I think I fully and truly realized what being the big sister means,” Venus wrote.

“It means that, for all of the things I did first, and all of the times when I paved the way for Serena, the thing I can be most proud of is this time. When Serena paved the way for me.”