SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, 26 February 2005 — Belgium’s Christophe Rochus advanced to the quarterfinals of the $355,000 ATP Scottsdale event on Thursday with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over fifth-seeded American Kevin Kim. Rochus, who is fresh off a runner-up finish at a Challenger event in Besancon, France, tomorrow, improved his match record to 2-3 on the season.
“He was making more mistakes in the second set than in the first and I was able to take advantage,” Rochus said. “Last week I won four matches in a Challenger in France, so I came in here with confidence, but I didn’t know what to expect this week.”
Rochus will face unseeded Italian Davide Sanguinetti in the quarterfinals. Sanguinetti moved into the quarters by rallying for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over American Paul Goldstein.
Goldstein was the lucky loser who got into the draw when top seed Tommy Haas of Germany withdrew with a sore lower back and the flu.
“I haven’t been winning so many matches lately, so it feels good to win the match and reach the quarterfinals,” Sanguinetti said. “I had a lot of injuries in 2003 and in the first five months of 2004. So it feels good to be healthy again and winning matches.”
Second-seeded American Vincent Spadea avoided an upset with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and Montenegro.
Spadea will meet fellow American James Blake, who rolled to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over American Jeff Salzenstein in a second-round match. Blake needed only 67 minutes to improve to 3-0 against Salzenstein and advance to the quarters here for the third straight year.
Nadal Ousts Third Seed Canas in Acapulco
In Mexico City, teenage Spaniard Rafael Nadal continued his run of fine form to beat third seed Guillermo Canas on Thursday and reach the semifinals of the $643,000 Abierto Mexicano tournament in Acapulco, Mexico.
Eighth seed Nadal, who picked up his second ATP title when he beat compatriot Alberto Martin in last week’s Brazil Open, swept past Argentine Canas 7-5, 6-3.
The 18-year-old Nadal will now meet Argentine wildcard Mariano Puerta in the last four. Puerta followed up Wednesday’s win over top seed Carlos Moya by overcoming another Spaniard, Felix Mantilla, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
Fifth-seeded Czech Jiri Novak was eliminated 7-5, 6-1 by unseeded Argentine Agustin Calleri, who won the tournament two years ago, now plays Spain’s Albert Montanes.
Montanes advanced to his first semifinal of the year with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 triumph over sixth-seeded Italian Filippo Volandri.
Pennetta Extends Winning Streak
Italian Flavia Pennetta geared up for her 23rd birthday with a 6-3, 6-2 second-round victory over Argentina’s Mariana Diaz-Oliva at the Mexican Open. Pennetta has now won 12 straight matches on the surface. She will aim to extend that winning streak against American Lilia Osterloh in the last eight.
American second seed Meghann Shaughnessy, however, skidded out on Thursday when she was beaten by Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-4, 6-7, 6-3. The Spaniard always looked to be in charge despite losing the second set 8-6 in the tiebreak. Antonella Serra Zanetti completed a successful day for the Italians when she reached the quarterfinals by overcoming Switzerland’s Emmanuelle Gagliardi 7-6, 7-5.
Rain Holds Up Play Again at Qatar Open
In Doha, rain has interrupted play for the second consecutive day in the $600,000 WTA Qatar Open yesterday. Top seed Amelie Mauresmo of France and the fourth seeded Alicia Molik of Australia were tied 3-3 in the first set of their semifinal match when a drizzle forced them indoors.
