Article atp 04-01-06

Nadal Reaches QFS; Former Champion Srichaphan Beaten

© Getty Images
ATP World No. 2 Rafael Nadal advanced safely to the Chennai Open quarterfinals Thursday, at the hands of local favourite and wild card entry Karan Rastogi.

Nadal hit five aces and converted four of seven break point opportunities in a 6-4, 6-1 victory in 84 minutes. The Spaniard will is looking to win his first title since defending his Roland Garros title in June last year.

Austrian Stefan Koubek needed just 47 minutes to beat former champion Paradorn Srichaphan 6-1, 6-2 for a place in the Chennai Open semifinals on Thursday.

Seventh-seeded Srichaphan, who beat Karol Kucera for the 2003 title and finished runner-up in 2004-05 (l. to Moya both times), won 20 of 44 service points. The Thai now holds a 20-5 record at the Indian tournament.

Koubek, currently No. 80 in the ATP Rankings, broke four times from five opportunities finishing 63 per cent on serve.

French veteran Fabrice Santoro, sixth seed, won 69 of 123 points in his 6-4, 6-2 victory over Bjorn Phau of Germany. Santoro, currently No. 52 in the ATP Rankings, will meet No. 3 seed Xavier Malisse in the quarterfinals.

http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/news/news4.asp