Date:16/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/16/stories/2008051656952100.htm

Sport - Tennis

Federer cruises

HAMBURG: Defending champion Roger Federer reached the quarterfinals of the Hamburg Masters Series after needing a little over an hour to see off Sweden’s Robin Soderling 6-3, 6-2 here on Thursday.

Nadal struggles

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Rafael Nadal made the last sixteen with a 6-4, 7-6(6) win over Italy’s Potito Starace.

Third seed and Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who is closing in on Nadal’s world No. 2 status, wasted no time in blasting his way past Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 6-1.

Serena advances

At Rome, Former world No. 1 Serena Williams beat Sara Errani 6-4, 6-3 to move into the WTA Rome International quarterfinals. Fourth seeded Serbian Jelena Jankovic made short work of Russian Maria Kirilenko, giving up just two games in a 6-1, 6-1 win.

Important results:

At Hamburg (Hamburg Masters): Third round: Roger Federer bt Robin Soderling 6-3, 6-2; Fernando Verdasco bt David Ferrrer 7-6(4), 6-2; Andreas Seppi bt Juan Monaco 6-0, 6-3; Albert Montanes bt Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 6-1. Second round: Rafael Nadal bt Potito Starace 6-4, 7-6(6); Novak Djokovic bt Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 6-1.

At Rome ( WTA Rome International ): Third round: Jelena Jankovic bt Maria Kirilenko 6-1, 6-1; Patty Schnyder bt Marion Bartoli 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(7); Serena Williams bt Sara Errani 6-4, 6-3. Second round: Marion Bartoli bt Virginie Razzano 6-4, 7-5; Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Olga Govorotsova 6-2, 6-0; Maria Sharapova bt Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. — Agencies.