Medina Garrigues takes out Castano for spot in Prague quarters

PRAGUE -- Fifth-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain has beaten Catalina Castano of Colombia 6-4, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the Prague Open.

To make her third semifinal of the year, Medina Garrigues will have to overcome Czech star Lucie Hradecka, who swept aside Monica Niculescu of Romania 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday.

Seventh-seeded Agnes Szavay of Hungary, fresh from winning her hometown Budapest title, eliminated Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 7-5. Szavay will play Slovenia's Polona Hercog, who advanced after second-seeded Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania withdrew with a knee injury before their match.

Patty Schnyder of Switzerland advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Alize Cornet of France.