MUNICH, May 1: Rainer Schuettler did not let Nikolay Davydenko spoil his homecoming as he beat the rising Russian 4-6 6-2 6-3 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Munich Open.

Schuettler, playing his first tournament in Germany since his surprise run to the Australian Open final in January, recovered from a slow start to tame Davydenko, who won his first two ATP titles this year to rise to 16th in the Champions Race.

German Schuettler, the fourth seed in the claycourt tournament, converted his third match point to clinch victory after a two-hour battle.

The local favourite goes on to meet Austria’s Stefan Koubek, who crushed Tim Henman 6-4 6-0.

Koubek, who captured the third ATP title of his career in the season-opening Qatar Open in January, took a measure of revenge after losing his three previous meetings with the Briton.

Henman, a wild card and seventh seed in the $380,000 event, is struggling to come back after having shoulder surgery in November.

His hard-fought win over Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti in the first round on Tuesday was only his second victory this year.

Earlier, Tim Henman showed he was still far from his best when he lost in straight sets to Austria’s Stefan Koubek in the second round of the Munich Open on Thursday.

A crushing 6-4 6-0 win gave Koubek, who captured the third ATP title of his career in the season-opening Qatar Open in January, a measure of revenge after losing his three previous meetings with the Briton.

Henman, a wild card and seventh seed in the $380,000 claycourt event, is struggling to come back after having shoulder surgery in November.

Results (x denotes seeding):

Rainer Schuettler (GER x4) bt Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, Stefan Koubek (AUT) bt Tim Henman (GBR x7) 6-4, 6-0

Valencia ATP results

Second round: Juan Carlos Ferrero (SPA) bt Albert Portas (SPA) 6-4, 6-4; Christophe Rochus (BEL) bt Markus Hipfl (AUT) 6-4, 6-0; Agustin Calleri (ARG) bt Dominio Hrbaty (SVK) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2; Gaston Gaudio (ARG) bt Galo Blanco (SPA) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Sargis Sargasian (ARM) bt Franco Squillari (ARG) 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.—Reuters