Third-seeded Venus Williams beat Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine 6-3, 6-4 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Zurich Open.

Venus Williams of the U.S. returns the ball during her first round match against Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko at the WTA Zurich Open tennis tournament at the Hallenstadion in Zurich on Wednesday, October 15, 2008. [Reuters]

The 28-year-old American saved four break points in the match, one in the first set and three in the second.

Bondarenko saved two match points while serving at 5-3, but sent a forehand long on match point in the next game.

Williams will next play either Maria Kirilenko of Russia and Francesca Schiavone of Italy, who were to play later Wednesday.

17th-ranked Flavia Pennetta of Italy beat Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-1, 6-1, and Swedish qualifier Sofia Arvidsson defeated Sybille Bammer of Austria 0-6, 7-5, 6-4.

The Italian next faces top-ranked Jelena Jankovic.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2008)