Top seed Peer crushes Sequera to reach Memphis quarters

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Feb 21 (Reuters) Israeli top seed Shahar Peer stormed into the Memphis International quarter-finals with a 6-0 6-0 drubbing of Venezuela's Milagros Sequera.

World number 17 Peer, top seed in a WTA Tour event for the first time, needed just 45 minutes to clinch victory and set up a match with American Bethanie Mattek yesterday.

''I served much better today,'' Peer told reporters. ''I was aggressive. She likes to control the point and set the pace and I didn't let her.'' The 19-year-old, who did not allow world number 84 Sequera a single break point as she moved into the last eight for the fourth time in five events this year.

''I think I had a very good off-season, one of my hardest ever,'' Peer said. ''I did a little more weights and improved my strength. I always moved well but I think I am now much stronger.'' Peer said she did not feel any added pressure by topping the seedings for the first time.

''It just means I am playing well. It doesn't give me anything.

If I win at the end of the week, then OK, but it doesn't matter for me.'' Fourth seed Samantha Stosur survived a second-set lapse to beat Camille Pin of France 6-2 6-7 6-1.

The Australian led by a set and 4-0 before Pin, the world number 76, hit back to level the match, winning the tiebreak 7-1.

But an early break in the third set put Stosur back on track and she romped through to a meeting with American qualifier Abigail Spears or Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania.

REUTERS AY VC1016