MUNICH: Top-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia defeated Grega Zemlja of Slovenia 6-4, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the BMW Open yesterday.
Also in the second round, third-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany overcame Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 in match lasting more than 2 hours, 10 minutes to set up a last-eight clash with countryman Florian Mayer. The sixth-seeded Mayer beat Australia’s Marinko Matosevic 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
The 35-year-old Haas, a finalist in 2000, is bidding to win the title for the first time on his 10th appearance.
Daniel Brands of Germany will play Gael Monfils of France later Thursday, with the winner to face Tipsarevic in the quarterfinals.
Kuznetsova bows out
In Oeiras, Portugal, former French Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova exited the WTA Portugal Open yesterday, a bitter 6-2, 6-2 quarterfinal victim of Swiss outsider Romina Oprandi.
“Unfortunately this was just one of those days where I wish I didn’t even step on the court,” complained the 27-year-old wildcard who won the French Open in 2009, five years after lifting the US Open.
Oprandi will be playing in her third career semi-final at the WTA level, with her last appearance in a final four coming in the Netherlands in 2011.
“Of course I’m excited to be in a semi-final again, but I can’t look any further ahead than the next match. It will be tough,” the winner said of her Friday contest against third seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who defeated compatriot and No.7 Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/3).
