Holder Hantuchova reaches last eight at Indian Wells

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Twice champion and holder Daniela Hantuchova reached the last eight at the Pacific Life Open by beating India's Sania Mirza 6-1 7-6 on Tuesday.

The fifth-seeded Slovakian held off a strong fightback by her opponent to wrap up victory in one hour, 55 minutes and set up a possible quarter-final with 2006 winner Maria Sharapova.

Fourth-seeded Russian Sharapova, unbeaten in 16 matches, was due to play Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko later on Tuesday.

Hantuchova, who beat Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in last year's final at Indian Wells, broke Mirza in the second and fourth games to storm through the opening set in 39 minutes.

After trading an early service break in the second set, the elegant 24-year-old broke again in the 11th game, when her opponent double faulted, to lead 6-5.

Although Hantuchova then lost her own serve, she clinched the tie-break 7-4, sealing victory with a crunching backhand down the line.

Later on Tuesday, top-seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic was scheduled to play Italy's Francesca Schiavone while sixth-seeded Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli was due to face twice former champion American Lindsay Davenport.

(Editing by Ken Ferris)