(January 6, 2016) Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal made easy work of their opponents to reach the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open in Doha on Wednesday.
No. 1 Djokovic defeated won his 17th straight contest against a Spanish challenger, stopping Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 6-2 while Nadal sent home Robin Haase 6-3, 6-2.
“I’m very pleased with the way I have started this season, with two matches in straight sets,” Djokovic said after the victory. “Tonight was tougher than the first round. Obviously I expected that. Verdasco is a former Top-10 player, somebody that has a lot of weapons in his game and who can create a lot of power from the forehand side. I wanted to take away the time from him. So I tried to mix it up. I served well in important moments.”
Djokovic will face Leonardo Mayer next for a place in the semifinals. “[Mayer] is a very intelligent tennis player,” Djokovic commented. “He knows how to anticipate well on the court and serves very well, even though he has a very high toss, but he doesn’t make too many double faults.”
Nadal will play Andrey Kuznetsov in his quarterfinal match-up.
Nadal was happy with his performance on Wednesday: “I played at a very high level against a good opponent today.
“My serve was a little bit worse than yesterday, but in general I am happy with the victory and my level of tennis. I hit my returns with a lot of confidence.”
As for the Spaniard’s next opponent: “I played against him at Roland Garros a couple of years ago, and he made some great shots. I hope I’ll be able to play at the same level as today.”
RESULTS – WEDNESDAY, 6 JANUARY 2016
Singles – Second Round
[1] N. Djokovic (SRB) d F. Verdasco (ESP) 62 62
[2] R. Nadal (ESP) d R. Haase (NED) 63 62
[3] T. Berdych (CZE) d D. Dzumhur (BIH) 60 64
[7] J. Chardy (FRA) d P. Mathieu (FRA) 62 64
[8] L. Mayer (ARG) d P. Andujar (ESP) 62 64
[Q] K. Edmund (GBR) d D. Muñoz de la Nava (ESP) 57 63 76(3)
I. Marchenko (UKR) d T. Gabashvili (RUS) 64 62
A. Kuznetsov (RUS) d R. Berankis (LTU) 76(6) 61
Doubles – Quarterfinals
[1] J. Rojer (NED) / H. Tecau (ROU) d T. Gabashvili (RUS) / A. Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 61 61
[2] J. Murray (GBR) / B. Soares (BRA) d J. Chardy (FRA) / P. Mathieu (FRA) 76(5) 64
[3] F. Lopez (ESP) / M. Lopez (ESP) d S. Bolelli (ITA) / S. Stakhovsky (UKR) 62 67(3) 10-6
[4] P. Petzschner (GER) / A. Peya (AUT) d D. Marrero (ESP) / A. Seppi (ITA) 62 64
SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, 7 JANUARY 2016
CENTRE COURT start 3:30 pm
[7] J. Chardy (FRA) vs I. Marchenko (UKR)
A. Kuznetsov (RUS) vs [2] R. Nadal (ESP)
[1] N. Djokovic (SRB) vs [8] L. Mayer (ARG)
[3] T. Berdych (CZE) vs [Q] K. Edmund (GBR)
COURT 1 start 4:00 pm
[1] J. Rojer (NED) / H. Tecau (ROU) vs [4] P. Petzschner (GER) / A. Peya (AUT)
[3] F. Lopez (ESP) / M. Lopez (ESP) vs [2] J. Murray (GBR) / B. Soares (BRA)
ATP World Tour 250 $425,535
Chennai, India (+6 hours GMT)
4-10 January 2016 Surface: Hard
RESULTS – WEDNESDAY, 6 JANUARY 2016
Singles – Second Round
[1] S. Wawrinka (SUI) d [WC] A. Rublev (RUS) 63 62
[4] R. Bautista Agut (ESP) d J. Millman (AUS) 64 61
[5] G. Garcia-Lopez (ESP) d [Q] A. Pavic (CRO) 76(5) 61
[8] B. Coric (CRO) d A. Krajicek (USA) 62 75
Doubles – First Round
[3] O. Marach (AUT) / F. Martin (FRA) d A. Bedene (GBR) / T. Huey (PHI) 46 64 10-5
[WC] N. Balaji (IND) / R. Ramanathan (IND) d [4] M. Daniell (NZL) / A. Sitak (NZL) 26 76(5) 10-5
[WC] S. Devvarman (IND) / J. Nedunchezhiyan (IND) d N. Monroe (USA) / H. Podlipnik-Castillo (CHI) 46 63 10-5
A. Krajicek (USA) / B. Paire (FRA) d S. Betov (BLR) / M. Elgin (RUS) 67(2) 64 15-13
SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, 7 JANUARY 2016
STADIUM COURT start 5:00 pm
[3] B. Paire (FRA) vs L. Rosol (CZE)
[WC] R. Ramanathan (IND) vs [LL] A. Kudryavtsev (RUS)
A. Krajicek (USA) / B. Paire (FRA) vs [2] M. Granollers (ESP) / L. Paes (IND)
COURT 1 start 5:00 pm
[Q] T. Fabbiano (ITA) vs [6] G. Muller (LUX)
A. Bedene (GBR) vs L. Vanni (ITA)
[3] O. Marach (AUT) / F. Martin (FRA) vs M. Fyrstenberg (POL) / S. Gonzalez (MEX)
COURT 2 start Not Before 7:00 pm
After Suitable Rest – [1] R. Klaasen (RSA) / R. Ram (USA) vs L. Rosol (CZE) / I. Zelenay (SVK)
