Hantuchova sorry for 'Sugi'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Hantuchova, who is unseeded at Wimbledon for the first time since 2004, came from a break down in the first set to gain a 6-4 6-3 victory over Ai Sugiyama, of Japan.

"It's never a nice feeling having to play Sugi because she's one of my best friends," said Hantuchova. "We've got such a great history together.

Hantuchova added: "She's a great person so winning or losing I knew always it was going to be a strange feeling for me, so I just tried to take it as another tennis match and not to think that she was on the other side. I said sorry after the match."

Hantuchova, from Slovakia, has been struggling with 'flu this week but will have the weekend to fully recover for her fourth-round match against Serena Williams, against whom she has already lost twice at Wimbledon.

Williams beat Italy's Roberta Vinci 6-3 6-4, while fourth seed Elena Dementieva needed just 59 minutes to book her place in the last 16 by thrashing fellow Russian Regina Kulikova 6-1 6-2.

Dementieva's next opponent will be another Russian, Elena Vesnina, who gained a 7-5 4-6 6-4 win over 14th seed Dominika Cibulkova, of Slovakia.

Tenth seed Nadia Petrova came from a set and a break down to complete a third successive win over Argentina's Gisela Dulko, the second-round conqueror of Maria Sharapova.

France's Virginie Razzano was given a free passage through to the fourth round when seventh seed Vera Zvonareva pulled out with an ankle injury.

Razzano, seeded 26th, will face Francesca Schiavone in the fourth round after the Italian put out former Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli, the 11th seed, 7-6 6-0.