Shruti, Jayalakshmi through to quarters

Comeback queen Shruti Dhawan made short work of Slovakian Eva Fislova and cruised into the quarter-finals while her compatriot Sai Jayalakshmi took a contrasting route to the last eight stage of the $25,000 ITF women's tennis tournament in Delhi on Wednesday.

Dhawan, who had ousted fifth seeded Surina De Beer of South Africa on Tuesday, made no secret of her intentions and pounded passing winners to subdue Fislova's challenge 4-1, 4-1, 4-0 inside an hour.

The Indian now has a relatively easy opponent in Lenka Dlhopolcova of Slovakia, who made it to the quarters after top seed Eva Krejcova of the Czech Republic pulled out midway through their second round match.

The Slovakian was leading 4-1, 2-0 when Krejcova decided to concede the match.

Former national champion Sai Jayalakshmi upset third seed Katarina Daskovic, but was made to work for the victory. Sai took the first set 4-0 before Daskovic levelled the scores by taking the second 4-2. The Indian made a strong rally and used her passing winners to again take the lead.

In the decider, Sai and Daskovic fought bitterly as the set went into the tie-breaker. The Indian finally broke away from the Yugoslav player to clinch the issue 4-0, 2-4, 5-3, 5-4 (7/5).

Sai squares off against seventh seed Ekaterina Kozhokina of Russia in the quarterfinals. The Russian bested Dutchwoman Andrea Van Den Hurk 5-3, 4-1, 3-5, 3-5, 4-1 in a second round clash.

In the botton half of the draw, Russia's Olga Kalijnaia caused a minor upset beating sixth seeded Slovakian Lubomira Kurhajcova 5-4 (9/7), 4-1, 4-0 to set up a last eight clash with Jyotsana Vasisht.

In another shock result of the day, Vasisht defeated Alicia Ortuno of Spain 4-2, 5-3, 5-3.

Winner of last week's $10,000 ITF event, Urska Vesenjak did not even have to hit a ball to get into the quarterfinals.

Vesenjak received walkover from Angela Cardoso of Portugal.

Promising Sonal Phadke survived a scare before downing lucky-loser Harsimran Bedi 4-1, 5-3, 4-5 (2/7) 4-2. She now meets Vesenjak in a tough quarterfinal match-up.