Mauresmo enters Zurich Open quarter-finals

ZURICH: World number one Amelie Mauresmo struggled to overcome Australia's Samantha Stosur 7-6 6-3 on Wednesday to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Zurich Open.   

The Frenchwoman has found wins difficult to come by in Zurich, with only one victory from three previous appearances.    Although Mauresmo began in lively fashion by holding serve to love, Stosur quickly settled and proved to be a stubborn opponent.   

After crushing the Australian 6-0 6-0 in Miami and beating her again in straight sets at Wimbledon this year, Mauresmo was made to work hard as Stosur hammered a total of 11 aces.   

Stosur was three times 30-0 down in the first set and it was often her serve that pulled her out of trouble. Her efforts were almost rewarded when she held two break points for a 4-2 lead but Mauresmo fought back and eventually took the tiebreak 7-4.   

Although Stosur failed to apply quite as much pressure in the second set, it was effectively decided by a single break of serve at 3-2 when she netted a backhand volley.