Djoko, Nishikori set up last-8 clash
Madrid, May 11: Novak Djokovic overcame stiff resistance from Feliciano Lopez to book his place in the quarter-finals of Madrid Masters with a 64, 7-5 win on Thursday.
Djokovic had battled back from 3-0 down in the deciding set in his opening match against Nicolas Almagro in the Spanish capital on Wednesday.
And, although not pushed that far by Lopez, the Serb is still struggling to rekindle the form that saw him hold all four Grand Slams just under a year ago.
Djokovic was, though, dominant on serve throughout, facing only one break point in the opening game of the second set.
And the 12-time Grand Slam champion applied just enough pressure at the right time to break Lopez’s serve in the final game of both sets.
Djokovic faces a much tougher test on Friday against world number eight Kei Nishikori, who earlier swept aside David Ferrer 6-4, 6-3.
World number one Andy Murray is in action later against Croatia’s Borna Coric.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal’s quest for a third straight title after wins in Monte Carlo and Barcelona faces a stiff test against Nick Kyrgios in the night session.
Earlier, the home favourite needed 90 minutes to complete the opening set, finally finishing off Italian Fognini on a second match point after being broken while serving for victory.
Controversial Australian Kyrgios cruised past American Ryan Harrison 6-3, 6-3.
Doubles partner Benoit Paire upset third seed Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 after the Swiss had served for the first set.
David Goffin awaits the winner of Nadal’s clash with Australian Kyrgios as the Belgian beat world number six Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-2.
Fifth seed Milos Raonic is into the last 16 as he got the better of a battle between two big servers, 6-4, 6-4 over Gilles Muller. In the women’s Madrid Open, third seed Simona Halep remains on course to defend her title as she thrashed American Coco Vandeweghe 6-1, 6-1.
Halep faces Latvian Anastasija Sevastova in Friday’s semi-finals after the world number 22 saw off Kiki Bertens 6-3, 6-3.
Bopanna, Cuevas knocked out
Rohan Bopanna and his parter Pablo Cuevas have been knocked out of the Madrid Open, their second consecutive firstround exit on the ATP World Tour.
Bopanna and Cuevas lost their opening match of the elite clay court event 3-6, 2-6 to Fabrice Martin and Daniel Nestor.
They had also made a first round exit at the Barcelona Open, where they had lost to Henri Kontinen and John Peers.
With Bopanna’s tame defeat, India’s challenge has ended at the Euro 6,408,230 clay tournament.
Yuki shocks top seed
Karshi, Uzbekistan: Yuki Bhambri shocked top seed and world number 96 Sergiy Stakhovsky to breeze into the singles semi-finals of the Karshi ATP Challenger, on Thursday.
It was first win over a top-100 player this season for the 273-ranked Indian, who outplayed the Ukrainian 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and 10 minutes.
The Indian saved the only breakpoint he faced in the match and broke his opponent thrice.
It will be third semifinal of season for Yuki on the ATP Challenger Tour, having reached the last-four stage of Zhuhai and Shenzen events in March.