Routliffe carries Kiwi hopes into women's quarter-finals in Papamoa

Doubles star Erin Routliffe has shown she’s a handy singles player in second round action at the Eves Open ITF World Tour event in Papamoa. Routliffe is through to the quarter finals after a 6-2 6-2 win over fellow Kiwi Monique Barry. It was a tough day for the other New Zealanders in the women’s singles with Paige Hourigan, Jade Otway and Elyse Tse all bowing out.

Routliffe will take on Canadian top seed Katherine Sebov in today’s quarter finals at the US $25,000 tournament. The other quarter finals have Japan’s Yuka Hosoki playing Czech second seed Mikaela Bayerlova. Third seed Anna Danilina meets Aussie Catherine Aulia and 4^th seed Zuzana Zlochova plays another Aussie Alicia Smith.

Rubin Statham, Rob Reynolds and Kiranpal Pannu are the three Kiwis through to the men’s quarter finals at the Second seed Statham advanced after Isaac Becroft retired trailing 4-0 in the first set of their second-round match. It was a similar scenario for qualifier Reynolds who was leading top seed Ajeet rai 6-5 when the Taranaki player retired.

6^th seed Pannu defeated Aussie Kody Pearson 7-6 (4) 6-3. Today’s quarter-finals have Jeremy Beale and Calum Puttergill playing and All Australian affair. Statham meets Aussie qualifier Derek Pham. Reynolds plays Pannu and French 4^th seed Arthur Weber faces Aussie 8^th seed Blake Ellis.