By Chris Davies
March 1 2003

Second-seeded Amanda Coetzer needed three sets to defeat the Czech Republic's Klara Koukalova and earn a quarterfinals spot at the $170,000 Mexican Open.

Coetzer, from South Africa, got past Koukalova, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, to set up a quarterfinal matchup with Italy's Flavia Pennetta. Coetzer, who was a runner-up last week in Memphis, titled in Acapulco in 2001 and last one a WTA title 2 years ago.

This week's fourth seed and last year's Acapulco champion Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia lost to Hungarian Petra Mandula, 6-4, 6-2, on Day 4. Srebotnik defeated Argentine Paola Suarez in last year's final at the Fairmont Acapulco Princess.
Mandula who was on the verge of her biggest win in Dubai couple of weeks ago against Mauresmo will now meet seventh-seeded Frenchwoman Emilie Loit in Friday's quarterfinals.

Czech Alena Vaskova joined this week's round of eight with a 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) victory over last week's Bogota runner-up Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain. Fabiola Zuluaga bested Medina Garrigues at the Copa Colsanitas title match over the weekend.

Thursday's other victor was Argentine Mariana Diaz-Oliva, who battered German Martina Muller 6-1, 6-2 to set-up a quarterfinal match against Vaskova.

2 Coetzer (SA)
Koukalova (CZE)
6-4, 3-6, 7-5

Diaz Oliva (ARG)
Muller (GER)
6-1, 6-2

Q Vaskova (CZE)
Medina Garrigues (SP)
7-5, 7-6

Mandula (HUN)
Srebotnik (SVK)
6-4, 6-2