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Russia's Elena Dementieva - Source: Reuters -
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In-form Russian Elena Dementieva has ended home-grown hopes in the Sydney International women's draw with a straight-sets win over Slovakian-born Australian Jarmila Gajdosova.
The 2008 Olympic champion needed just one hour and 16 minutes to complete a comfortable 6-2 6-4 win over Gajdosova on Tuesday.
The win was Dementieva's sixth in as many matches so far in 2009, including the title at the ASB Classic in Auckland last week.
Gajdosova had to play under the Slovakian flag for the Sydney event due to WTA eligibility rules which mean she cannot play as an Australian until she gains full citizenship.
But the 21-year-old will represent Australia in next week's Australian Open as that competition is run under ITF rules rather than the WTA ones imposed here.
Easy contest
Tuesday's match proved an easy one for Dementieva, the world No.4 breaking Gajdosova in the opening game of both sets as the young Slovakian was never allowed to settle.
Gajdosova did attempt something of a comeback in the second but Dementieva showed her class to finish out the match on her serve.
Dementieva will now meet Polish sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska who moved into the last eight with a 6-3 7-5 win over Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova.
Np players left
Gajdosova's loss means Australia has no players left in the women's draw, with Sam Stosur and Casey Dellacqua both losing in the first round.
Danish eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki is also through to the quarter-finals after a comprehensive 6-2 6-0 win over British qualifier Melanie South.
Women's top seed Serena Williams hits Ken Rosewall Arena on Tuesday afternoon to play her second round match against Dellacqua's conqueror Sara Errani.
