Berdych breezes into quarterfinals
Former winner Tomas Berdych comfortably beat Colombia's Alejandro Falla 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Japan Open.
Berdych will play Japan's Kei Nishikori, who recorded a 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Spain's Tommy Robredo.
Third seed Janko Tipsarevic also progressed with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli.
The Serb faces sixth seed Milos Raonic next after Tipsarevic's compatriot Viktor Troicki retired against the Canadian because of a calf injury at 3-0 down in the first set.
Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus battled past fourth-seeded Argentine Juan Monaco, last year's Kuala Lumpur winner, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3.
Paes-Stepanek through
Top seeded pair of Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek had to work hard to down unseeded rivals Filip Polasek and Julian Knowles 6-4, 6-4 in the their opening round doubles match.
The Indo-Czech pair will next take on British brother pair of Andy and Jamie Murray, who rallied to beat Eric Butorac and Jarko Nieminen 5-7, 6-3, 10-4 in their opening round.
Azarenka sparkles
Top two seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, both bidding for their first title in Beijing, eased into the last eight in straight-set victories at the China Open on Thursday.
Belarus’ World No 1 Azarenka defeated qualifier Elena Vesnina of Russia 6-3, 6-3 to set up a quarterfinal clash with Switzerland’s Romina Oprandi, while Sharapova cruised past World No 90 Polona Hercog of Slovenia 6-0, 6-2 in just one hour and a half.
Sania-Nuria in semis
Sania Mirza and her partner Nuria Llagostera Vives progressed to the China Open semifinals after coming from behind to pip Julia Goerges and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
The fifth seed Indo-Spanish pair overcame the fighting German-Czech pair 4-6, 6-4, 16-14 in one hour and 34 minutes in the quarterfinals.
