Duque-Marino, Panova reach Colombia quarters

15 February 2013 03:27

Local hope Mariana Duque-Marino defeated top seed Mandy Minella at the Copa Bionaire in Colombia on Thursday.

Duque-Marino dropped a closely-fought first set before prevailing 4-6 7-5 6-1 after two hours and 12 minutes at the WTA clay-court event in Cali.

The world number 145 moves on to face Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals after the sixth-seeded Ukrainian defeated Julia Cohen of the United States 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (7-5).

Fourth seed Alexandra Panova also progressed, the Russian world number 106 coming from a set down against Eugenie Bouchard to reach the last eight.

Panova accounted for the Canadian teenager 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7-4) in an intense encounter that lasted two hours and 45 minutes.

Her bid for a place in the semi-finals will come under threat against Paula Ormaechea, who also needed over two hours to reach the quarters, at the expense of Spain's Estrella Cabeza Candela.

After losing a see-sawing first-set tie-breaker, Argentine Ormaechea, ranked 80 places below her opponent at world number 195, overran Cabeza Candela to triumph 6-7 (8-10) 6-2 6-1.