Defending champion Bartoli exits in Auckland

PERTH, Jan 3 (Reuters) Fourth seed Marion Bartoli's defence of her Auckland Classic crown ended in the second round today when she fell in straight sets to fellow Frenchwoman Emilie Loit.

Bartoli was joined in the list of deposed seeds by number three Daniela Hantuchova, the Slovak going down 6-1 7-5 to French qualifier Virginie Razzano. Bartoli struggled to come to terms with the swirling winds in Auckland and went down 7-5 6-4 to Loit, who now faces another Frenchwoman, Camille Pin, for a place in the semi-finals.

''I think it's tough to play against my sliced backhand with the wind. I could play every day in the wind,'' Loit told reporters.

Top seed Jelena Jankovic continued her serene progress through the draw with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Finn Emma Laine.

The Serb world number 12 now faces Greece's Eleni Daniilidou in the quarter-final after she ended hopes of a home triumph with a 6-4 2-6 6-4 victory over 18-year-old New Zealand wildcard Marina Erakovic.

Two-time champion and seventh seed Daniilidou needed over two hours to see off the Kiwi, who now heads for Australian Open qualifying in Melbourne.

''She was really going for it. She did a very good job, but for myself, I had to push so much,'' the Greek said.

Argentine veteran Paola Suarez also booked her place in the last eight after a 7-6 6-4 win over China's Tiantian Sun, and now plays American Jill Craybas.

REUTERS SAM HS1302