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Szavay sets up Baltacha clash

Agnes Szavay has won two titles this season © Getty Images

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Britain's Elena Baltacha will meet eighth seed Agnes Szavay in the second round of the Korea Open in Seoul after the Hungarian eased past Polona Hercog in straight sets.

World No. 38 Szavay, who has scooped two WTA Tour titles this season, broke her opponent six times as she eased to a 6-1 6-2 victory. She will now meet Baltacha, who has had two days' rest after play was washed out on Tuesday, for a place in the quarter-finals.

Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic failed to reach the last 16 after she was sent crashing out by Vera Dushevina. Ivanovic, a wildcard in Seoul, won the opening set but fell 2-6 6-4 6-2.

Another former No. 1, Dinara Safina, battled past Romania's Simona Halep. Safina, who, like Ivanovic, has slipped down the rankings in recent months, is on the comeback trail from a back injury, and the Russian showed no signs of pain as she overcame her opponent 6-4 6-4.

Safina will now meet third seed Maria Kirilenko, who beat Urszula Radwanska 6-3 6-1. Kirilenko has won both her previous meetings against Safina this season, including at the Australian Open in January.

Defending champion Kimiko Date Krumm beat compatriot Junri Namigata 6-2 7-5, while Guangzhou Open champion Jarmila Groth was no match for top seed Nadia Petrova , who wrapped up a 6-3 6-2 victory.

Meanwhile, at the Tashkent Open in Uzbekistan, three seeds were sent crashing out of the draw. Magdalena Rybarikova, Maria Elena Camerin and third seed Anna Chakvetadze all suffered surprise defeats.

Second seed Akgul Amanmuradova delighted the Tashkent crowd when she battled past American Jill Craybas 7-5 6-7(6) 6-2.

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