ingis braves pullouts to reach Montreal quarters

MONTREAL, Aug 18 (Reuters) Former world number one Martina Hingis advanced to the quarter-finals of the Rogers Cup after defeating Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 7-5 6-4.

''Every point counted, that's all you can say,'' the 1999 and 2000 champion told reporters yesterday.

''One point here, one point there, that made all the difference.

She served amazingly today, so it was hard to get some rhythm.'' Her win came as a relief to organisers of the tournament, which has been plagued by withdrawals, injuries and no-shows all week.

Swiss Hingis put on a public practice session earlier in the day after Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova and Serbia's Jelena Jankovic joined the list of injured withdrawals.

A day after the tournament lost world number two Kim Clijsters with a wrist injury, fifth seed Vaidisova withdrew with a right shoulder problem, giving Australian qualifier Nicole Pratt a walkover into Friday's quarter-finals.

Jankovic also pulled out with an unspecified injury, allowing countrywoman Ana Ivanovic a free pass into the last eight.

Vaidisova said she wanted to ensure she was fit for the US Open, which begins on Aug. 28.

''It's too close to the U.S. Open to risk anything further,'' she said.

Seventh-seeded Hingis will play Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova, at four the highest seed left in the tournament, who moved on with a 6-2 7-6 victory over Ai Sugiyama of Japan.

The event has been hexed from the start, with several top players pulling out before the start. Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo, French Open winner Justine Henin-Hardenne and Maria Sharapova were among the notable absentees.

Slovenia's Katarina Srebotnik, the 14th seed, overwhelmed hometown favourite Stephanie Dubois 6-3 6-2 to set up a quarter-final clash with Ivanovic.

Russian Anna Chakvetadze beat France's Nathalie Dechy 6-1 6-4 to set up a meeting with Israel's Shahar Peer.

Ninth seed Dinara Safina ended the challenge of American qualifier Shenay Perry 7-5 6-3 and now faces Australia's Pratt.

REUTERS PM BS0914