BEIJING: Two-time champion Novak Djokovic reached the China Open quarterfinals after dismissing Carlos Berlocq of Argentina 6-1, 6-3 on Wednesday.
Djokovic rushed through the first set then lost his serve twice in the second before winning the second-round match.
The Serb faces Jurgen Melzer on Friday after the Austrian defeated Alexandr Dolgopolov 7-6 (9), 2-6, 6-1.
Germany’s Florian Mayer also made the last eight.
Women’s defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska needed more than two hours to put away Spanish qualifier Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Second-ranked Maria Sharapova downed Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-2, 6-2, and Slovenian qualifier Polana Hercog beat Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (3).
Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic were knocked out of the third round.
Ivanovic was ousted 6-4, 6-3 by Romina Oprandi of Switzerland. Jankovic fell apart after leading 5-2, going out to Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 7-5, 6-4.
Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Andy Murray advanced to the quarterfinals of the Japan Open by beating Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-1, 6-2 also on Wednesday.
Stanislas Wawrinka also advanced, beating Jeremy Chardy 7-6 (1), 6-7 (6), 7-5. C
Also, Janko Tipsarevic rallied to beat Gilles Simon 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the first round, and fourth-seeded Juan Monaco defeated Bulgarian qualifier Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-1. (AP)
