Baltacha beaten in Auckland

British number one Elena Baltacha was knocked out of the ASB Classic in Auckland in straight sets by fourth seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy.

The Scot had begun 2012 in positive fashion with victory over New Zealand's Sacha Jones in the first round on Monday, but world number 20 Pennetta proved too strong in the second round.

Pennetta gained the upper hand by converting her one break point in the first set and then overcame a rain delay on set point to clinch the opener before cruising through the second set to post a 6-4 6-2 triumph.

Second seed Peng Shuai was ousted 6-4 6-3 by Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic, becoming the highest profiled name to bow out.

He Chinese compatriot Zheng Jie accounted for eighth seed Monica Niculescu as she demolished the Romanian 6-0 6-2.

The fifth, sixth and seventh seeds - Julia Goerges, Roberta Vinci and Yanina Wickmayer - also departed.

Goerges was defeated 6-2 6-3 in an all-German match against Angelique Kerber, while Italian Vinci also lost in straight sets, Elena Vesnina of Russian progressing 6-3 6-4.

Belgium's Wickmayer appeared to be putting up more of a fight until she too crumbled to a 4-6 6-1 6-1 loss to Sara Errani of Italy.

It means Sabine Lisicki, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Pennetta will be the only seeds in the quarter-finals.

It was a struggle for top seed Lisicki of Germany, who battled to a 7-6(7/3) 3-6 6-3 win over compatriot Mona Barthel. Kuznetsova claimed a straight-sets wins over Christina McHale.