Jankovic through as rain hits Hong Kong schedule

The seventh seed prevailed 6-4, 6-3 over Aleksandra Krunic in an all-Serbian encounter on a day when the weather brought the rest of the schedule to a halt.

Jelena Jankovic has progressed to the quarterfinals of Hong Kong Open.

Reigning champion Jelena Jankovic beat the rain and Aleksandra Krunic to become the first player through to the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open.

The seventh seed prevailed 6-4, 6-3 in an all-Serbian encounter on a day when the weather brought the rest of the schedule to a halt.

World No. 1 Angelique Kerber was locked in a tense battle with Louisa Chirico when their match was postponed in the decider.

All looked to be going to plan for the German, who was the runner-up in Hong Kong last year, when she took the first set 6-2, but a two-hour rain delay followed as she trailed 5-3 in the second.

Chirico did not let the interruption have an adverse impact, returning to wrap up the second set before proceedings were ended for the day with Kerber 2-1 up and with a break point in hand.

Daria Gavrilova, seeded eighth, will resume her contest against Katerina Siniakova on Thursday with the eighth seed leading 6-2 1-0.

Venus Williams and Alize Cornet did not make it onto court for their encounter.