TOKYO (AP) -- Top-seeded Venus Williams of the United States overpowered compatriot Vania King 6-0, 6-4 on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open.

Spain's David Ferrer, top-seeded in the men's tournament, downed South Africa's Wesley Moodie 7-6 (5), 6-2 to advance to the third round.

Williams, No. 8 in the WTA rankings, beat King in a match that lasted 1 hour, 6 minutes at Ariake Colosseum and will face Alicia Molik in the quarterfinals of the US$175,000 tournament.

Australia's Molik defeated Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak 6-1, 6-0.

"In the first set, she wasn't able to get a racket on the ball," said Williams. "But she played better in the second set after she started taking some chances."

King, ranked 87th, came to life in the second set, taking a 2-0 lead before Williams fought back.

Williams, who is coming off winning the Korea Open on Sunday, broke King to go up 4-3 and then won the match with a crosscourt forehand to the corner that King returned into the net.

In other matches, India's Sania Mirza, seeded second, defeated Australian Casey Dellacqua 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, while France's Camille Pin downed Croatia's Jelena Kostanic Tosic 6-1, 6-0.

Ferrer became the US$832,000 tournament's top-seeded player when world No. 1 and defending champion Roger Federer pulled out before the start because he needs to rest after the U.S. Open and Davis Cup.

"I don't feel pressure at being the top seed," said Ferrer. "Who knows what would have happened if Roger was here. It's unfortunate that he couldn't make it but I can't think about that and just have to take care of my own game."

In other men's singles second-round matches, Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, seeded fourth, defeated Slovenia's Luka Gregorc 6-3, 6-3 and Sweden's Thomas Johansson posted a 6-4, 6-4 win over American Justin Gimelstob.

American Michael Russel defeated Croatia's Marin Cilic 7-6 (2), 2-6, 6-1.

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