Safina outclasses Camerin to reach quarter-finals

DEN BOSCH, Netherlands, June 20 (Reuters) Second seed Dinara Safina was severely tested before she beat Italy's Maria Elena Camerin 4-6 6-2 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the Ordina Open today.

The 20-year-old Russian needed four break points to take Camerin's serve in the second set but conceded only one further game before securing victory at the Wimbledon warm-up event.

''She was a tough opponent, and I was happy that I could fight through,'' Safina, a quarter-finalist at the French Open earlier this month, said.

''She didn't give me any free points... I didn't play so great in the first set but I kept fighting.'' The world number 17 will next meet either Dutch wildcard Brenda Schultz-McCarthy or Poland's Marta Domachowska.

In the men's event, American Vince Spadea advanced to the second round by beating Germany's Bjorn Phau 4-6 6-1 6-4.

Top seeds Nikolay Davydenko -- who has won only one match on grass in 10 attempts -- and three-times semi-finalist Tommy Robredo will play later today.

REUTERS AY PM1950