ADELAIDE: Jessica Pegula dropped just five games to romp past Maria Sakkari at the Adelaide International on Wednesday in a delayed start to her season days before the Australian Open.

The top seed and US Open finalist, who had a bye in the first round, overwhelmed the Greek former world number three 6-4, 6-1.

The world number seven will play fellow American Ashlyn Krueger in the quarter-finals after she stoppedSpain`s Paula Badosa 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (4-7), 6-2.

But defending champion Jelena Ostapenko crashed out to 2022 winner Madison Keys, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

`I had to weather the storm and stay in it, I`m happy with how I did that today,` Keys said.

Pegula, who last played at the WTA Finals in November, improved her record against Sakkari to 6-5 as the Greek player works her way back from a shoulder injury.`It`s always tough getting the first win of the year, you don`t know what to expect,` said Pegula.

`But it`s good heading into Melbourne next week. My focus is on doing well here first.

`It`s fun to problem-solve on court and have a good attitude to start the year.

Second-seeded fellow American Emma Navarro, ranked eight in the world, came through a tougher assignment needing two hours to bat-tle past Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

She will face another Russian, Liudmila Samsonova, who ground past Switzerland`s Belinda Bencic 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-4, for a place in the semifinals.

Men`s top seed Tommy Paul had to work hard to eliminate French qualifier Manuel Guinard, ranked 261.

The American emerged a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 winner and will next playAustralian Rinky Hijikata, who beat American Brandon Nakashima in three sets.

`I dealt with the pressure points very well,` said Paul. `As top seed I know I`ve got a target on my back. I have to bring it tomorrow.

Second seed Sebastian Korda put out Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-3, while Canadian fifth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime staged a fightback to defeat France`s Arthur Cazaux 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.-AFP