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DUBAI, March 2: World number two Rafael Nadal withstood a strong first set challenge before defeating Britain’s Tim Henman 7-6 6-1 to reach semifinals of the Dubai Open on Thursday.
Henman was unable to convert three break points in the second game and two more after Nadal had broken to lead 3-2 with a return off a second serve.
Results
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) bt Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-3, 6-1; Rafael Nadal (SPA) bt Tim Henman (GBR) 7-6 (7/1), 6-1; Roger Federer (SUI) bt Robin Vik (CZE) 6-3, 6-2, Rainer Schuettler (Germany) bt Bjoern Phau (Germany) 6-4 6-1.
LAS VEGAS (Nevada): Top-seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt put his first-round struggles behind him on Wednesday and cruised into the quarterfinals of this 380,000-dollar ATP tournament.
Hewitt downed Czech Jan Hernych 6-3, 6-3 to set up a clash with Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat Julien Benneteau of France 6-3, 6-2.
Hewitt had needed three sets to get past Germany’s Florian Mayer in the first round on Monday.
But the 25-year-old Aussie was never in trouble as he posted his third career win over Hernych, taking advantage of two break chances in the second set to complete the victory.
Results (second round)
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) bt Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4; Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) bt Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-3, 6-2; Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) bt Jan Hernych (CZE) 6-3, 6-3; Tommy Robredo (ES) bt Mardy Fish (USA) 6-4, 6-4.
DOHA: Results from the 600,000-dollar WTA tournament on Thursday:
Quarterfinals
Nadia Petrova (RUS) bt Na Li (CHN) 6-4, 6-4; Ai Sugiyama (JPN) bt Julia Schruff (GER) 6-3, 6-2, Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) bt Roberta Vinci (ITA) 6-4, 6-0
