Zheng Jie to return to top 10

Birmingham - Zheng Jie, the only Chinese player to reach the singles semi-finals at Wimbledon, is certain to return to the world's top 30 after making the Aegon Classic quarter-finals on Thursday.

Zheng beat Andrea Hlavackova, a rising Czech, 6-4, 6-1 - a misleadingly comfortable scoreline because conditions were breezy, the court uneven, and Hlavackova had important chances.

Hlavackova had two break points at 3-3 in the first set, and four break-back points at 3-1 in the second set, statistics which hinted at how good Zheng's focus was.

Results on Thursday at the Aegon Classic, a WTA event on grass at Edgbaston Priory Club:

Singles

Third Round

Ekaterina Makarova (8), Russia, def. Marina Erakovic (9), New Zealand, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Zheng Jie, China, def. Andrea Hlavackova, Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-1.
Melanie Oudin, United States, def. Elena Vesnina, Russia, 6-0, 6-2.
Roberta Vinci (4), Italy, def. Heather Watson, Britain, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.
Hsieh Su-wei (13), Taiwan, def. Melinda Czink, Hungary, 6-1, 6-2.
Irina Falconi, United States, def. Urszula Radwanska, Poland, 7-5, 6-3,
Jelena Jankovic (1), Serbia, def. Casey Dellacqua, Australia, walkover.
Misaki Doi, Japan, led Stephanie Foretz Gacon, France, 6-4, 2-2, suspended, rain.