TOKYO, Feb 1: Fifth-seeded Kimiko Date of Japan had to play a close and lengthy game again Wed-

nesday before reaching the

quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament, reports AP.

Date. No. 10 in the world, scored a 6-1. 2-6. 6-2 triumph over Japanese qualifier Yone Kamio in the second round match.

Date took the first set by scattering deep shots, forcing Kamio off balance, but lost her pace and became erratic in the second set. She collected points at crucial times in the third set to win the match, which lasted more than one hour. 30 minutes.

Date needed nearly two hours and full sets before beating lower-ranked American Patty Fendick 4-6. 6-3. 6-1 in the first round Tuesday.

T hac| good concentration in the first set but lost it in the second set.' Date said. It's hard to keep up my pace throughout the match. "It's a mental problem

Sixth-seeded Anke Huber of Germany beat American Gigi Fernandez 3-6. 6-1. 6-2 in the first round match

Japan's Naoko Sawamatsu fired powerful and well-placed ground strokes to trounce American veteran Zina Garrison Jackson, who frequently failed In her service returns

Sawamatsu scored a 6-1. 6-2 triumph over Jackson in the first round match

Jackson, once ranked world No. 4. has now dropped to 24th.

"I know this fast surface is advantageous for a serve-and-Volley player like Jackson, so I tried to fire deep shots to keep her away from the net." Sawamatsu said. "It’s always nice to wih a first round match."

In the second set. Jackson Jumped to 40-love in the first game but had to play three deuces to keep it. The American broke the sixth game while Sawamatsu broke the third fifth and seventh.

Sawamatsu. the quarterfinalist in last week’s Australian Open, is now ranked 17th. a high for her career.

In other second round match, eighth-seeded Iva Ma-Joll of Croatia outlasted Kristie Boogert of the Netherlands 3 6 7-6 (7-2). 6-4 to advance into the quarterfinals.

Japan s wild-card entry Kyoko Nagatsuka, after losing the first set. rallied to beat American qualifier Debbie Graham 1-6. 6-4. 6-2 In one hour. 35 minutes in another first round match

Top-seeded Conchita Mar tinez of Spain, 1994 Wim biedon champion and second seeded Mary Pierce of France, the 1995 Australian Open champion, each drew a first round bye.