VIENNA, 15 October 2004 — Second-seeded Nicolas Massu got the job done over a South African qualifier yesterday to earn his best career result at the 682,750-euros BA-CA Trophy with a quarterfinal showing. The Olympic champion from Chile stepped up his game on the forgiving slow carpet of the Stadthalle, claiming a 6-4, 6-2 second-round victory over Rik De Voest.
Massu produced an efficient effort in just under 90 minutes as he won three of 11 break points while never facing one against an outclassed opponent ranked 213.
American Robby Ginepri knocked out Paradorn Srichaphan 6-2, 6-1 to move into his third quarterfinal of the season.
Argentine No. 6 Guillermo Canas overcame Taylor Dent 6-4, 6-4 four days after the American lost the final in Tokyo. Spain’s eighth seed Feliciano Lopez, won into the last eight over Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-1, 6-4.
Davenport Gets Top Spot, Dementieva to Face Kuznetsova
In Moscow, Lindsay Davenport will take over the world No. 1 spot from Amelie Mauresmo when the rankings are released next week after brushing aside Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-2 yesterday to reach the Kremlin Cup quarterfinals.
The 28-year-old American, who trailed Mauresmo by 15 points at the start of the week, only needed to win her opening match in Moscow to take the top spot after the Frenchwoman withdrew from the $2.3 million tournament with a thigh injury.
Fifth seed Elena Dementieva also eased through to the last eight with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Croatian qualifier Sandra Mamic to earn an eagerly-awaited rematch with fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, whom she lost to in the US Open final.
Defending champion and third seed Myskina recovered from a slow start to oust her Russian Fed Cup teammate Elena Likhovtseva 2-6, 6-1, 6-0 and set up yet another all-Russian quarterfinal with sixth seed Vera Zvonareva.
Former world No. 1 Venus Williams also advanced, beating 18-year-old Vera Douchevina, one of several young Russians who have taken tennis by storm this year, 6-0, 6-4.
On the men’s side, Greg Rusedski, trying to get his tennis career on track after battling through various injuries, crushed Filippo Volandri, one of the hottest players on the tour at the moment, 6-2, 6-4 in 62 minutes.
