Henin, Kuznetsova in Qatar quarter-finals

DOHA, Feb 28 (Reuters) Top seed Justine Henin shrugged off a determined challenge from Australia's Alicia Molik to reach the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open with a 6-2 7-6 victory today.

The Belgian was joined in the last eight by seeds Martina Hingis, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Jelena Jankovic and Patty Schnyder.

Fifth seed Schnyder's reward for a 6-3 6-4 win over Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues was a date with Henin.

Third seed Hingis set up an intriguing showdown with sixth seed Daniela Hantuchova after posting an easy 6-2 6-2 victory over her doubles partner Maria Kirilenko of Russia.

''Maria is a good friend... so playing against her was difficult,'' said the Swiss.

Hantuchova rallied to down Greek Eleni Daniilidou 6-7 6-3 6-3 and fourth seed Jankovic routed Italy's Maria Elena Camerin 6-0 6-1.

Kuznetsova, a 7-5 6-1 winner over Germany's Julia Georges, will next face Francesca Schiavone.

The eighth seeded Italian was made to work hard in an all-Italian battle with Mara Santangelo before her opponent quit with a left wrist injury while trailing 4-6 7-6 1-0.

GULF DOUBLE World number two Henin, bidding for a 'Gulf double' after her triumph in Dubai last week, won the first set with ease.

But inexplicably she lost her focus in the second set and it was thanks to Molik's unforced errors that the Belgian managed to wrap up the 90 minute-match in two sets after winning the tiebreak 11-9.

Henin blamed fatigue for her second-set wobble.

''You always expect a tough match against a player like Alicia. I had a good start... and then I lost my energy a little bit,'' Henin told reporters.

''I lost some intensity in my game. And she gave me lots of trouble on her serve. I wasn't playing that well that time in the second set.

'But I came back and found everything. I didn't do my best, but I won in two sets. That is the key for me.'' Henin expects a tough quarter-final outing against Schnyder.

''She really gave me a lot of trouble in the past. We are always involved in big fights, in three sets,'' Henin said.

''Last time she beat me in three sets in Charleston. She is a special player, unlike others as she is a lefty. It will be a tough one. I have to raise my level if I have to win.'' Reuters DH RN0101