JOIN US Olympic champion Andy Murray suffered a second pre-US Open setback in as many weeks when he was knocked out of the Cincinnati Open in the third round on Thursday, losing 6-4, 6-4 to France's Jeremy Chardy.
World number one Roger Federer, in contrast, needed just 62 minutes to get by 19-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic 6-2, 6-4 and book his spot in the quarterfinals.
It was even easier for second seed Novak Djokovic who advanced after Nikolay Davydenko retired injured following a 6-0 first set that took just 33 minutes. Chardy will now face Argentine Juan Martin del Potro who fought past Serb Viktor Troicki 7-6, 2-6, 6-1.
Federer will face American Mardy Fish who defeated Czech Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-3 in a repeat of the 2010 final here.
Canada's Milos Raonic pulled off a surprise 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 win over Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych. Raonic will face Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka who won 6-3, 6-3 over Japan's Kei Nishikori.
Meanwhile, Serena Wi-lliams, coming off a double Olympic gold medal-winning performance in London, said she was feeling the pace of a hectic schedule after a lethargic display in her 6-3, 6-0 win over Urszula Radwanska on Thursday. Sister Venus also booked her place in the last eight with a routine 6-3, 6-0 dispatching of Italian Sara Errani which earns her a clash with US Open champion Samantha Stosur.
Hesh-Bopanna in QF
Sixth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna moved into the men’s doubles quarterfinals after receiving a walkover. Dutch Robin Haase and Juan Monaco of Argentina did not take the court.