TENNIS/QATAR OPEN: Top seed Nikolay Davydenko and number two Ivan Ljubicic marched into the quarter-finals of the $1 million Qatar Open yesterday.
Russian Davydenko defeated Swedish doubles specialist Jonas Bjorkman 6-4 6-3 while Croatian Ljubicic put out 2002 champion Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco 6-3 6-4.
Davydenko meets Belgium's Olivier Rochus in the last eight today while Ljubicic faces Russian Mikhail Youzhny.
The other quarter-finals pit third seed Marcos Baghdatis against Swede Robin Soderling, and fourth seed Andy Murray against Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
Cypriot Baghdatis outplayed Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-2 6-0 while Scotland's Murray cruised past Christophe Rochus of Belgium 6-1 6-3.
HOPMAN CUP: India stepped closer to a final appearance on their Hopman Cup debut after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Croatia yesterday.
Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna made it two wins out of two after clinching the decisive mixed doubles rubber on a tie-break, winning 3-6 6-3 7-6 (10-8) in 75 minutes against Sanja and Mario Ancic.
India, who booked their place in the event by winning the inaugural Asian Hopman Cup in November, finally prevailed when Mario Ancic netted a volley to send the watching supporters into raptures at the Burswood Dome.
The win moved India into pole position in Group B ahead of Spain and the Czech Republic on one win each, with the winless Croatians unable to qualify for Friday's final.
CHENNAI OPEN: Third seed Belgian Xavier Malisse regained composure after losing his temper in the first set to defeat Italian Stefano Galvani 6-3 6-2 and move into the quarter-finals of the Chennai Open yesterday.
The 26-year-old broke his racket in frustration early in the first set following disputed calls. The world number 37 then calmed down to win the second-round contest in 89 minutes against his 109th-ranked opponent.
Former world number one Carlos Moya quelled American Kevin Kim's spirited challenge 6-4 6-3 to also move into the quarter-finals.
Malisse, who beat Asian Games singles gold medallist Danai Udomchoke of Thailand in the opening round of the $416,000 event, lost his serve in a stormy opening game but broke back to level in style. He broke his opponent in the third and seventh games to win the second set.
AUSTRALIAN HARDCOURT CHAMPIONSHIP: Serbian third seed Ana Ivanovic swept aside Venezuelan Milagros Sequera 6-1 6-2 to advance to the quarter-finals on the Gold Coast yesterday.
The 19-year-old world number 14, a winner in Montreal last season, gave the South American little chance in a victory that secured a last-eight encounter with Israeli fifth seed Shahar Peer.
Peer moved through to the quarter-finals courtesy of a 6-3 6-2 win over Russia's Olga Poutchkova.
ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL: Top seed Novak Djokovic moved into the quarter-finals yesterday after another handsome group victory at the expense of Australia's Alun Jones.
The Serbian world number 16, who hammered Czech Jan Hajek 6-0 6-1 in his first group match on Tuesday, was not stretched by the home wildcard and won 6-1 6-2 to book his place in the last eight.
AUCKLAND CLASSIC:Fourth seed Marion Bartoli's defence of her Auckland Classic crown ended in the second round yesterday when she fell in straight sets to her French compatriot Emilie Loit.
Bartoli was joined in the list of deposed seeds by number three Daniela Hantuchova, the Slovak going down 6-1 7-5 to French qualifier Virginie Razzano.
Bartoli struggled to come to terms with the swirling winds in Auckland and went down 7-5 6-4 to Loit, who now faces another Frenchwoman, Camille Pin, for a place in the semi-finals.
Top seed Jelena Jankovic continued her serene progress through the draw with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Finn Emma Laine.
