<p>Former winner Tomas Berdych comfortably beat Colombia's Alejandro Falla 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Japan Open. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Berdych will play Japan's Kei Nishikori, who recorded a 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Spain's Tommy Robredo. <br /><br />Third seed Janko Tipsarevic also progressed with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli. <br /><br />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. <br />Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus battled past fourth-seeded Argentine Juan Monaco, last year's Kuala Lumpur winner, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3. <br /><br />Paes-Stepanek through<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Azarenka sparkles<br /><br />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.<br />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.<br /><br />Sania-Nuria in semis<br /><br />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.<br />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.</p>
<p>Former winner Tomas Berdych comfortably beat Colombia's Alejandro Falla 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Japan Open. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Berdych will play Japan's Kei Nishikori, who recorded a 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 victory over Spain's Tommy Robredo. <br /><br />Third seed Janko Tipsarevic also progressed with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli. <br /><br />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. <br />Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus battled past fourth-seeded Argentine Juan Monaco, last year's Kuala Lumpur winner, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3. <br /><br />Paes-Stepanek through<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Azarenka sparkles<br /><br />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.<br />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.<br /><br />Sania-Nuria in semis<br /><br />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.<br />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.</p>