January 05, 2008	Saturday	Zilhaj 25, 1428

CHENNAI, Jan 4: World No.2 Rafael Nadal stayed on course for an early title in the new year as he stormed into the quarter-finals of the ATP Chennai Open on Thursday.

The top-seeded Spaniard outclassed qualifier Rajeev Ram, an American citizen born to Indian parents, 6-2, 6-1 in the second round of the event.

Meanwhile, former world junior number two Marin Cilic of Croatia upset fifth-seed Nicolas Mahut of France 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals.

Results:

Second round: Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Rajeev Ram (US) 6-2, 6-1; Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Nicolas Mahut (FRA x5) 6-2, 6-4; Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) bt Werner Eschauer (AUT x7) 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3); Robin Haase (NED) bt Lovro Zovko (CRO) 6-1, 7-5.

DAVYDENKO FACES MURRAY IN SEMIS

DOHA: Russian top seed Nikolay Davydenko earned a chance of revenge over Andy Murray, the Briton who beat him in last year’s semi-finals, as both of them reached the last four of the Qatar Open on Thursday.

Results:

Quarter-finals: Ivan Ljubicic (CRO x4) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3; Andy Murray (GBR x3) bt Thomas Johansson (SWE) 7-6 (7/4), 6-0; Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) bt Agustin Calleri (ESP) 6-3, 6-0; Nikolay Davydenko (RUS x1) bt Dmitry Tursunov (RUS x8) 7-5, 6-3.—Agencies