Del Potro clinches his spot in the ATP Finals
Favourite Juan Martin del Potro avoided the fate of third seed Grigor Dimitrov to surge into the quarter-finals of the China Open yesterday.
The towering Argentine top seed, enjoying one of the best seasons of his injury-blighted career, dismissed Russia’s stubborn Karen Khachanov 6-4, 7-6.
The victory means that Del Potro has qualified for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals – taking place at London’s O2 Arena next month – for the first time since 2013.
The world No 4 faces Filip Krajinovic of Serbia – who defeated Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 7-6, 6-3 – in the last eight in Beijing.
Bulgaria’s Dimitrov was on the end of a major shock, totting up nine double faults in a three-set defeat to Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic.
Lajovic meets Britain’s fifth seed Kyle Edmund in the quarter-finals.
In the women’s tournament, No 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki rounded off a polished display with an ace in a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Petra Martic of Croatia. The Dane faces Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit in the last 16.
Wozniacki can qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore by reaching the semi-finals – or sooner, depending on results. “Everyone is trying to fight for Singapore,” she said. “I’m just here to try and qualify ... and go as far in this tournament as I possibly can.”
Seventh seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic set up a meeting against China’s top player Wang Qiang by beating Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-3, 6-4.
The Chinese No 1 routed an ailing Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-0 to reach the third round.
Meanwhile, Local hero Kei Nishikori put down a marker in his quest for a third Japan Open title as he outgunned France’s Benoit Paire yesterday to reach the last eight.
The third seed, who lifted the trophy in 2012 and 2014, completed a 6-3, 7-5 victory despite late resistance from Paire. “I had a few dangerous moments but I stuck to my game,” Nishikori said.
Nick Kyrgios flickered into life for just long enough to dispatch Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka 7-5, 7-6 in the first round. He will face Richard Gasquet for a place in the quarter-finals.