Britain's Heather Watson ousted Swedish fifth seed Sofia Arvidsson 7-5, 6-3 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the $220,000 WTA Quebec City Challenge. Watson advanced to a Friday matchup against Austrian third seed Tamira Paszek, who outlasted American Varvara Lepchenko 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/4). Lepchenko, born in 1986 in Tashkent and competing as an American since 2007, made her fifth double-fault to give Paszek a 5-4 edge in the last tie-breaker and the Austrian won the final two points on her serve to end the marathon match one minute beyond three hours. Canadian fourth seed Rebecca Marino advanced by beating compatriot Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. She will next face Dutchwoman Michaella, who ousted France's Julie Coin 7-5, 4-6, 6-1. Dutchwoman Michaella Krajicek ousted France's Julie Coin 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 to reach a quarterfinal against Marino. Pervak, Kudryavtseva in semis Top-seeded Ksenia Pervak and defending champion Alla Kudryavtseva advanced to the semifinals of the Tashkent Open Thursday with straight-sets victories. Pervak beat qualifier Victoria Larriere 6-1, 6-2, while sixth-seeded Kudryavtseva eliminated the 2008 champion Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (5), 6-4. In the other quarterfinals, Eva Birnerova beat Valeria Savinykh 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, and Urszula Radwanska defeated Eleni Daniilidou 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. The 52nd-ranked Pervak, who is looking for her first career title, was broken while serving for the match at 5-1, but wrapped up the match in the next game.
