Latasha Khan and Olivia Blatchford kept home hopes of success in the Women's Racquet Club Invitational alive after straight games wins in the opening round of the WISPA World Tour 8 squash event at The Racquet Club in St Louis, USA.

Second seed Khan, the world No31 from Seattle, despatched Canadian Genevieve Lessard 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 - while fourth seed Blatchford, the 18-year-old world No42 from New York, ousted Australian qualifier Heidi Mather 11-2, 11-8, 11-5.

Both now face Canadians in a bid to make the semi-finals - Khan will line up against sixth seed Miranda Ranieri and Blatchford eighth seed Stephanie Edmison.

RESULTS: Racquet Club Invitational, St Louis, USA

1st round:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) bt Maria Toor Pakay (PAK) 11-8, 11-0, 11-2
[7] Samantha Cornett (CAN) bt Larissa Stephenson (NZL) 11-9, 11-6, 11-9
[4] Olivia Blatchford (USA) bt [Q] Heidi Mather (AUS) 11-2, 11-8, 11-5
[8] Stephanie Edmison (CAN) bt Elpiniki Clement (USA) 11-2, 11-9, 11-8
[5] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY) bt Sabrina Sobhy (USA) 11-7, 11-7, 11-3
[3] Victoria Lust (ENG) bt Kristen Lange (USA) 11-3, 11-5, 11-6
[6] Miranda Ranieri (CAN) bt [Q] Nour Bahgat (EGY) 11-8, 11-6, 12-10
[2] Latasha Khan (USA) bt Genevieve Lessard (CAN) 11-4, 11-6, 11-5

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Line Hansen (DEN) v [7] Samantha Cornett (CAN)
[4] Olivia Blatchford (USA) v [8] Stephanie Edmison (CAN)
[3] Victoria Lust (ENG) v [5] Nicolette Fernandes (GUY)
[2] Latasha Khan (USA) v [6] Miranda Ranieri (CAN)