Japanese trio lead way while Brit exits

First it was the Belgians, then the Russians and now the Japanese are making their mark on women's tennis.

Three of Japan's leading four female players have made it through to the last 16 of the DFS Classic in Birmingham.

Shinobu Asagoe, Akiko Morigami and Saori Obata have left the Russians in their wake as they blazed through the first two rounds, with not a single Belgian in sight.

The Russian revolution may not be quite grinding to a halt, with French Open finalists Anastasia Myskina and Elena Dementieva not playing, but top seed Nadia Petrova became the fifth Russian casualty at Edgbaston.

World No12 Petrova lost for the second time in four years at Edgbaston to Japan's No2 Asagoe, who was runner-up last year.

Asagoe won 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 and will play 16-year-old French hope Tatiana Golovin in today's third round.

No fewer than 12 different nations will be represented in the last 16 - but Britain will not be among them.

Anne Keothavong followed up her impressive win over Marta Marrero with another sterling effort against Spanish 16th seed Maria Sanchez Lorenzo before going down 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

The British No1 said: "It was a similar match, both are baseliners, and they are the kind of player I enjoy playing.

"There are lots of things I can do better but I don't feel I played badly and I can't be downbeat."

Fifth seed Jelena Dokic lost 6-4, 7-6 to American Shenay Perry.