RAIN wrecked havoc at the BMW Malaysian Open yesterday as play was halted twice with top seed Agnieszka Radwanska yet to complete her first round match at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort.
The first rain break lasted for three hours before play resumed with Agnieszka taking on Uzbekistan's Akgul Amanmuradova. But the rain once again halted play.
The tournament organisers waited for nearly three hours before calling off proceedings. Only three of the eight scheduled matches were completed yesterday.
The 22-year-old Polish player, who won her eight tour title at last week's Dubai Championships, was leading Akgul 6-2, 3-3 when rain interrupted play.
The delay has left a logjam in the schedule with the winner of the Agnieszka or Akgul match, also down to play a second round match today.
But it turned out to be a fruitful day for Taiwanese qualifier Hsieh Su Wei, who defeated Australia's World No 107 Casey Dellacqua 6-1, 7-5 to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Su Wei, the World No 123, hardly had any rest since arriving from Dubai on Saturday for the qualifying round.
"I didn't have much sleep the last three days and in fact took advantage of the three-hour rain delay today (yesterday) to get some needed rest," said Su Wei.
"My body is still adjusting and I am just happy to get to the quarter-finals. I've played five matches already in the tournament and it is tiring."
Su Wei, an accomplished doubles player with eight tour title, is playing in only her third singles tournament of the season.
In her last event at the Pattaya Open, the 26-year-old made a breakthrough by making her first ever semi-final appearance before bowing out.
Also through into the quarter-finals is Croatia's fifth seed Petra Martic, who overcame a three-hour rain delay, before edging Japan's Kurumi Nara 6-2, 3-6, 6-0.
AT A GLANCE
Results -- Singles (2nd rd): Petra Martic (Cro) bt Kurumi Nara (Jpn) 6-2, 3-6, 6-0; Hsieh Su Wei (Tai) bt Casey Dellacqua (Aus) 6-1, 7-5; Agnieszka Radswanska (Pol) v Akgul Amanmuradiva (Uzb) 6-2, 3-3 (suspended).
Doubles (Q-finals): Chang Kai Chen-Chuang Chia Jung (Tai) bt Yurika Sema (Jpn)-Varatchaya Wongteanchai (Tha) 6-2, 6-4.
