• WTA Tour

Wozniacki dumped out in Tokyo

Caroline Wozniacki threw away a winning position © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Sharapova limps out in Tokyo
  
• News: Ivanovic edges out Robson in Tokyo
  
• News: Stosur dumped out in Tokyo as Wozniacki survives scare
  
• Profile: Ana Ivanovic | Maria Sharapova | Caroline Wozniacki

Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki was sent crashing out of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo after succumbing in three sets to world No. 43 Kaia Kanepi.

Wozniacki was a break up in the deciding set, but threw away her chances of victory as Kanepi bounced back to claim a surprise 7-5 1-6 6-4 win.

Top seed Wozniacki got off to a blistering start against the Estonian, bursting out of the blocks to take an early lead, but she was pegged back and Kanepi grabbed the set with a late break of serve.

Wozniacki started the second set in much the same vein as she had opened the match, but this time she powered through to force the match to a decider. The Dane looked to be firmly on course for victory after taking the advantage early in the third, but Kanepi refused to be beaten, bouncing back to claim an unlikely win.

Kanepi will face ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarter-finals after the Pole battled back from a set down to beat Jelena Jankovic 2-6 6-4 6-0.

Also through to the last eight is second seed Maria Sharapova, who was pushed all the way by German Julia Goerges. Sharapova won two tight sets to set up a rematch with Petra Kvitova, and the chance to avenge her Wimbledon final defeat.

Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, who beat Laura Robson on Tuesday, failed to reach the quarter-finals after falling to Russian Maria Kirilenko. Kirilenko, who claimed the scalp of US Open champion Sam Stosur in the second round, continued her giantkilling run with a 6-3 6-1 victory to set up a meeting with fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva, who defeated Iveta Benesova 6-1 6-2.

Meanwhile, third seed Victoria Azarenka beat Klara Zakopalova in straight sets and will meet Marion Bartoli for a place in the semi-finals.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.