Top-seeded Victoria Azarenka swept her way into the quarterfinals of the $145,000 Tashkent Open tennis tournament in Uzbekistan.

Azarenka, just 18 and ranked 35th in the world, easily handled Evgeniya Rodina 6-4, 6-3 and moved into Friday's matches where she will face another qualifier in Ksenia Palkina.

No. 3-seeded Olga Govortsova rallied Thursday for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Anne Kremer. Govortsova drew Katie O'Brien, a 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) second-round winner over Anastasiya Yakimova, for Friday's quarterfinals.

Paulina Parmentier routed Vesna Manasieva 6-2, 6-1 and is to go against local favorite Akgul Amanmuradova on Friday.

The highlight match of the quarterfinals, however, pairs fourth-seeded Elena Vesnina against No. 5 Ioana Raluca Olaru. They won their second-round matches Wednesday.

The tournament continues through the weekend with the 2007 Tashkent Open winner earning $21,165.