Date:09/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/09/stories/2009010953281900.htm

Sport - Tennis

Nadal and Federer enter quarterfinals

DOHA: Top-ranked Rafael Nadal and No. 2 Roger Federer advanced to the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open on Wednesday, each winning in straight sets.

Nadal beat Karol Beck of Slovakia 6-1, 6-2, and Federer defeated Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-3, 6-3.

Andy Murray, who lost to Federer in last year’s U.S. Open final, also advanced. The fourth-ranked Briton defeated Philipp Petzschner of Germany 6-2, 6-4, breaking his opponent twice in the first set and then once in the second.

The top-ranked Spaniard will next play the fifth-seeded Gael Monfils of France.

Ivanovic ousted

At Brisbane, former World No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo upset the top-seeded Ana Ivanovic 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International on Thursday. This was Mauresmo’s first victory over a top 10 player in two years.

The results: At Brisbane (Brisbane International): Quarterfinals: Men: Fernando Verdasco bt Florent Serra 4-6, 6-0, 6-3.

Women: Victoria Azarenka bt Lucie Safarova 7-6(5), 6-4; Sara Errani bt Olga Govortsova 6-3, 6-3; Amelie Mauresmo bt Ana Ivanovic 6-3, 6-2; Marion Bartoli bt Tathiana Garbin 6-3, 6-3.

At Auckland: WTA Auckland Classic: Quarterfinals:

Aravane Rezai bt Edina Gallovits 6-3, 6-2; Elena Dementieva bt Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-1; Anne Keothavong bt Ayumi Morita 6-0, retd.; Elena Vesnina bt Caroline Wozniaki 6-3, 0-6, 6-3.

At Doha: ATP Qatar Open: Second round: Roger Federer bt Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-3; Gael Monfils bt Nicolas Devilder 7-5, 7-6(5).

Victor Hanescu bt Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-4; Andy Murray bt Philipp Petzschner 6-2, 6-4; Rafael Nadal bt Karol Beck 6-1, 6-2; Sergiy Stakhovsky bt Alexander Peya 7-5, 6-3.

Philipp Kohlschreiber bt Kristof Vliegen 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4. — Agencies