Advertisement

Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » Sports » Tennis » Reuters > Report
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
Advertisement
   Discuss   |      Email   |      Print | Get latest news on your desktop

Nishikori beats Hrbaty, faces Ancic in quarters
Get Sports updates:What's this?
Advertisement
October 10, 2008 08:50 IST

Top seed David Nalbandian marched into the Stockholm Open quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Swede Joachim Johansson on Thursday.

Former world top-10 player Johansson, just back from retirement, struggled to cope with the steady baseline play of his Argentine opponent.

"I played good even though maybe I didn't return as well in the first set as I did in the second," said Nalbandian who next plays Spaniard Albert Montanes.

"I feel great indoors and I feel strong again. There were so many injuries in the beginning of the year," the world number seven told reporters.

Nalbandian capitalised on his first break point to open a 5-3 lead in the opening set.

He then broke to love to capture a 4-2 advantage in the second before going on to break serve again.

Earlier, Kei Nishikori scraped past Slovak Dominik Hrbaty 6-1, 1-6, 7-5 to clinch a meeting with second seed Mario Ancic of Croatia who put out Belgian Steve Darcis 7-6, 6-4.

Hrbaty, leading 5-4 in the third set, came within two points of victory before the Japanese player reeled off the last three games.

"This is the first time I've won so consistently and it surprises me," said Nishikori who has risen to a career-high 77th in the world after starting the year 288th.

"I haven't faced anyone from the top 10 (here) but it gives me confidence. Now I hope to go through to the semis."



© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
 Email  |    Print   |   Get latest news on your desktop

© 2008 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback