CHINA’S Li Na entered the last 16 of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo yesterday, posting a 7-5, 6-0 win over Russia’s Vera Dushevina.

Li will next face Ukraine qualifier Kateryna Bondarenko, who upset Elena Dementieva of Russia 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-1 in another match yesterday.

Third-seeded Dementieva was the latest highly ranked player to be upset in the second round after top-ranked and defending champion Dinara Safina lost to Chang Kai-chen from Chinese Taipei, and second-seeded Venus Williams lost to Russian qualifier Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Monday.

Four of the tournament’s five top seeds have been eliminated after No. 5 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova also lost Monday.

No. 8 seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus earned a 6-1, 6-1 win over China’s Zheng Jie.

(SD-Agencies)