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MONTREAL, Aug 12: Top-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain moved into the quarterfinals of the $2.45-million U.S. Montreal Masters on Thursday with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Sebastien Grosjean of France. Nadal will meet eighth-seeded Mariano Puerta of Argentina, who stopped Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-2, 6-4.
Fourth-seeded Andre Agassi also moved into the final eight on Thursday night, knocking off Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer 6-4, 6-2.
Agassi will face sixth-seeded Gaston Gaudio of Argentina, who overcame 11th-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-3, 7-6 (0).
Results (third round): Karol Beck (Slovakia) bt Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 6-4 3-6 7-6(4); Rafael Nadal (Spain) bt Sebastien Grosjean (France) 6-4 6-4; Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) btTommy Robredo (Spain) 6-3 7-6(0); Greg Rusedski (Britain) bt Mario Ancic (Croatia) 6-2 3-6 6-2; Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) bt Olivier Rochus (Belgium) 6-1 6-2; Andre Agassi (United States) bt Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) 6-4 6-2; Mariano Puerta (Argentina) bt Xavier Malisse (Belgium) 6-2 6-4; Dominik Hrbaty (Slovakia) bt Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) 6-4 6-2
SHARAPOVA SURVIVES
LOS ANGELES (California): Maria Sharapova took a step closer to becoming the first Russian to top the WTA rankings with a 4-6 6-4 7-5 third-round victory over compatriot Anna Chakvetadze at the Los Angeles Open on Thursday.
Sharapova’s quest to topple Lindsay Davenport as world number one this week almost ended as she struggled with a right pectoral muscle injury throughout the two hour 18 minute contest.
The 18-year-old had an MRI scan on the injury on Wednesday but it did not reveal anything.
Results (third round): Nadia Petrova (Russia) bt Klara Koukalova (Czech Republic) 6-2 6-4; Francesca Schiavone (Italy) bt Varvara Lepchenko (Uzbekistan) 6-3 2-6 6-3; Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia) bt Katerina Bondarenko (Ukraine) 6-4 6-4; Elena Dementieva (Russia) bt 17-Marion Bartoli (France) 6-3 7-6(4); Conchita Martinez (Spain) bt Eleni Daniilidou (Greece) 6-1 (Daniilidou retired); Maria Sharapova (Russia) bt Anna Chakvetadze (Russia) 4-6 6-4 7-5; Kim Clijsters (Belgium) bt 12-Dinara Safina (Russia) 6-0 7-5; Tathiana Garbin (Italy) beat Lisa Raymond (United States) 6-4 6-3.—Agencies
