Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia

It is safe, even easy, to say that Svetlana Kuznetsova is not a good frontrunner. She is not one of those athletes that relishes in carrying the number one bulls eye seed through an event. Svetlana is comfortable a bit down in the draw, say spots 6 – 10 and picking off higher seeds as they falter, just as unlikely candidates are now doing to her.

Svetlana’s reign as top seed has failed again and Marion Bartoli of France took full advantage of a tentative “playing not to lose” Kuznetsova in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Monday. And, the way she did it was as surprising as the outcome. Frankly, Bartoli’s win 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 can only be characterized as the consummate turnaround. Trailing 2-3 in the second set, Bartoli launched as assault for which Svetlana had no answers today. The Frenchwoman ran off the next ten games and left the center court stunned and the top seed gasping for air.

The win moves Marion into her second quarterfinals here and first since 2003. The mission ahead will not get any easier for the 13th seed, who will next face one of three remaining hungry Belgians, 12th seed Yanina Wickmayer.

The 20-year old outhit upstart Timea Bacsnscky of Switzerland. Wickmayer was in command throughout the one-hour 6-1, 6-0 match and the tall Belgian looks fit for a good run at Bartoli.

Fourth seeded defending champion Victoria Azarenka put together one of her disappearing acts and fell sharply to Belgian Kim Clijsters. After a competitive first set, Azarenka lost focus or drive and came up short in the 6-4, 6-0 ousting. Clijsters has yet to lose a set in Miami and appears more game than last week at Indian Wells.

Clijsters will move on to face hard-serving Samantha Stosur, of Australia, who took measure of Jalena Jankovic this time around. Last week Jankovic ended Stosur’s run in California, but perhaps Samantha is a Miami girl. The 6-1, 7-6 (9) win ended Jankovic’s nice nine-match win streak. Samantha will need her jumping serve to hold off the powerful Clijsters.

Also reaching the quarters is the second seed, Caroline Wozniacki, who put together her best effort yet in subduing Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-2. Wozniacki has been challenged on two occasions in Miami but has risen to the top as she did last week, gaining the finals in California.

However, this time her quarterfinal opponent will be the third Belgian troubleshooter, unseeded Justine Henin, who just keeps overcoming foes. With 5th seed Elena Dementieva already on her win list for the week, Henin added hot playing Russian power player Vera Zvonareva on Monday. The 6-1, 6-4 win was convincing and Wozniacki will be forced to get out of the blocks fast against the Henin momentum.

Rounding out the quarters will be the graceful 3 seed and three-time champion here, Venus Williams. The elegant one recorded her 13th straight tour win with a gutsy 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 three setter. Occasionally, Williams starts slowly and the remainder of the field will not surrender those early leads.

The three seed will meet the feisty six seed, Agnieska Radwanska of Poland. The Pole had a relatively easy time with Yaroslava Shvedova recording a solid 6-1, 6-4 triumph. Radwanska has been tough of late and her persistence could give Venus a bit of a run.

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