Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova maintained a strong Russian presence in the Advanta Championships in Philadelphia despite the absence of Maria Sharapova.
One day after the second-seeded Sharapova pulled out of the event with a thumb injury, the fourth-seeded Dementieva and sixth-seeded Petrova both won in straight sets.
Following a first-round bye, Dementieva defeated German qualifier Angelika Bachmann 6-3 6-4 to advance to the quarter-finals for the seventh time in her last eight singles tournaments.
Petrova, who notched her first career title in Linz last week, dispatched qualifier Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus 6-4 6-2 to advance to the second round.
Second round results:
7-Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Rep) bt Klara Koukalova (Czech Rep) 4-6 6-1 6-4
Mashona Washington (USA) bt Tatiana Panova (Russia) 7-6(4) 6-3
Martina Sucha (Slovakia) bt Angela Haynes (USA) 6-3 6-1
4-Elena Dementieva (Russia) bt Angelika Bachmann (Germany) 6-3 6-4
First round results:
6-Nadia Petrova (Russia) bt Tatiana Poutchek (Belarus) 6-4 6-2
Kveta Peschke (Czech Rep) bt Jill Craybas (USA) 6-1 6-1
