Tipsarevic evened his record at 3-3 against Murray, who’s never had an easy time with the Serb.

Tipsarevic, who hadn’t won on tour this year until this week, served for the match at 5-3 in the third set but was broken by Murray’s double-fisted backhand passing shot on the run. However, Tipsarevic then broke Murray a third time to seal the match after 2 hours, 30 minutes.

“Andy is one of the best when it comes to return of serves. I kind of expected that my serve will be broken,” Tipsarevic said. “I just told myself that I have to remain calm and composed and take my chances when they come. And I am glad I did just that.”

The pair hit 13 aces each but Murray landed in only just more than half of his first serves, and Tipsarevic took three of his four break chances.

Murray converted only three of 12.

Novak Djokovic admitted to feeling fortunate to get past Serbian countryman Viktor Troicki 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.

Djokovic felt the heat from Troicki and the 93-degree temperature until midway through the second set when the growing shade across the court helped to slow down the balls to Djokovic’s liking.

Up a set and 3-3 in the second, Troicki missed game point and Djokovic took over, winning in 2 hours, 6 minutes.

“I wasn’t happy with the performance overall. But I won, that’s what matters,” he said.

“He was a better player for a set and a half. I think this is one of the rare tournaments that you really feel (a) big, big difference between the day match and night match. The balls go really much faster, and as soon as the shade came on the court, I felt more control over my game.”

Fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko retired after losing the first set 6-3 to Michael Berrer of Germany because of the left wrist he injured at Rotterdam two weekends ago.

“It’s disappointing for me because I didn’t recover fast enough,” said Davydenko, who was doubtful for Russia’s Davis Cup team next week.

Marin Cilic came back from 6-3 down in the tiebreaker to beat Austrian qualifier Stefan Koubek 6-2, 7-6 (6) and improve his ATP Tour-best record to 17-1 this season.

Sixth-seeded Cilic and Koubek broke each other three times in the second set and Koubek, who’d won their only previous match four years ago, led 5-1 in the tiebreak.

“It was nice not to play (a) third set,” Cilic said.

He will meet another Austrian in the quarterfinals after Jurgen Melzer beat Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-3, 7-5.

Seventh-seeded Michael Youzhny won 7-6 (2), 6-4 against Bjorn Phau of Germany, and Marcos Baghdatis defeated Indian qualifier Somndev Devvarman 6-3, 3-6 6-1.
 
Dementieva, Kleybanova, Ayumi through to quarters

In Kuala Lumpur, first seed Elena Dementieva of Russia cruised into the quarterfinals at the Malaysian Open on Wednesday with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski.

The convincing victory was wrapped up in one hour eleven minutes after Jovanovski committed a series of unforced errors.

Dementieva's hopes of winning the tournament were boosted by an early exit of second seed Li Na of China on Tuesday.

Earlier, fourth seed Alisa Kleybanova of Russia advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva.

In another second round match, Australia's Anastasia Rodionova ousted Ekaterina Ivanova of Russia 6-2, 6-2 in just over 60 minutes to roll on, while Japan's Ayumi Morita crushed China's Yan Zi 6-2, 6-1 in one hour 13 minutes.

A delighted Kleybanova attributed her win to her strong serves and her ability to remain calm in the blistering tropical heat.

"I am happy I won the match. I had to be mentally strong to survive the heat," she told reporters.

"I have always won against her (Kudryavtseva). But it was a tough fight. I just kept my focus on the game to win every point."   "My serve was good today. It gave me confidence in the match and mentally I was very strong. I was fighting (for every point) until the end," Kleybanova added.

The cool Kleybanova won 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-4 in three hours.

Kleybanova will play against Rodionova in the quarterfinals.

"I have never played against her but I will be mentally prepared amid the hot weather. (The heat) will make play tough for everybody," she added.