Oudin Latest Favorite to Fall

Only two of the eight seeded players at the Cellular South Cup made it until Wednesday, and only one has made it to Thursday, as Melanie Oudin became the latest favorite to fall in Memphis.

Oudin, the No.3 seed at the $220,000 tournament, showed some of her trademark fight, saving two match points down 61 53, but she would fall four games later to Russia's Evgeniya Rodina, 61 75.

"I was definitely a little bit off today. When I finally started playing better, it was too late," Oudin said. "She played well. She took control at the end and played a really good service game at 5-all. I really, really hoped I would come back but it was too late. She was the better player today."

The only other seed left standing was tested but managed to win, as No.6 seed Rebecca Marino fired 10 aces and rallied from a break down in the third set to beat Sorana Cirstea, 62 46 63. The Canadian is now in her second WTA quarterfinal, having made the final eight on home soil in Québec City last fall.

"I had to fight today and now I'm in my second quarterfinal," Marino said. "I'm really happy. I hope I can keep it going."

The 20-year-old Canadian was asked about being the only seeded player left. "The number beside your name doesn't really mean much. I can't let that go to my head."

Also snapping up quarterfinal berths were Lucie Hradecka, a 64 63 winner over Sandra Zahlavova; Coco Vandeweghe, who beat lucky loser Alexandra Stevenson, 62 62; and Heather Watson, who won a battle between qualifiers with Stéphanie Foretz Gacon, 62 57 64.

"I started really well but she managed to raise her game and my game dropped," said Watson, who originally led 62 41, but then lost that second set and had to fight back from 4-1 down in the third. "It was a big fight in the end but I kept thinking, 'Stay calm, keep fighting and the opportunity will come.'

"I have played her three times and this was the first time I won. I actually played her last week and she won 8-6 in the third set tie-break. We have had some battles."

Magdalena Rybarikova, Ksenia Pervak and qualifier Alexa Glatch all reached the quarterfinals with wins on Wednesday.

All four quarterfinals will take place on Thursday, with Marino facing Vandeweghe, Pervak facing Hradecka, Rodina facing Watson and Rybarikova facing Glatch.