Ferrero Takes the Money and Runs, Safin, Nalbandian Win Two at ATP Beijing

Two additional seeds were sent out of the tournament in No. 4 Rainer "Shine" Schuettler (l. to Youzhny) and No. 7 Taylor Dent (l. to Nieminen).

Two other seeds advanced in No. 6 Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan (d. Okun 7-6 in the third, saving a m.p.) and No. 8 Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty (d. Sanguinetti).

In the only all-unseeded match, Korea's Hyung-Taik Lee took out Moya-killer Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

On tap for the Friday quarterfinals are Youzhny vs. (8) The Dominator, H.-T. Lee vs. (6) The Thai Fighter in an all-Asian, Nieminen vs. (3) Nalbandian, and (5) Safin vs. K.Kim.

Top-Seeded Spadea Wins, Rusedski Ruins All-American Day at Delray

Top-seeded Vince Spadea was on his game at the ATP stop in Delray Beach Thursday night, pounding fellow American James Blake 6-3, 6-1 to advance into the quarterfinals.

"He's had some setbacks the last 6-10 weeks," Spadea said of Blake. "I tried to stay close with him in case he tried to go out for a lead if he got a little erratic. I've always wanted to win this tournament. This is my home tournament."

Unseeded Brit "Grinning" Greg Rusedski spoiled what would have been an all-American winning day by beating American qualifier Mathias Boeker, who was rattled by his involvement in a car accident on the way to his match.

Other winners on the day were Americans (Q) Hugo Armando (d. countryman Jeff "The Lizard King" Morrison), and Jeff Salzenstein (d. countryman Goldstein 6-1 in the third).

Friday's quarters line up as Carlsen vs. (3) Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic, Golmard vs. Ricardo Mello "Yello," (1) Spadea vs. (Q) Armando, and "Grinning" Greg vs. Salzenstein.

Seeds Win, Local Hero Hanescu Into QF at ATP Bucharest

All three seeds in play won through to the quarterfinals Thursday at the ATP stop at Bucharest in No. 2 Florian Mayer (d. Di Pascuale in three), No. 6 David Ferrer (d. (Q) Djokovic in three), and No. 7 Filippo Volandri (d. (Q) Gasquet in three).

Also into the quarters was local hero Victor Hanescu of Romania, who rolled past Austria's Stefan Koubek in straight sets.

"I played very well today, I played perfect," Hanescu said. "I started well and I was very focused in the second set. The crowd was unbelievable also. I'm happy for this week."

Friday's QF line-up on the dirt is Mathieu vs. Acasuso, Hanescu vs. (7) Volandri, Mantilla vs. (4) Andreev, and the only all-seeded QF in (6) Ferrer vs. (2) Mayer.

Kuznetsova Keeps US Open Mojo, Wins at WTA Bali

US Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova extended her streak to eight wins in a row on tour at the WTA stop in Bali Thursday, defeating Aussie qualifier Sam Stosur in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals.

Not so lucky was her compatriot, No. 1-seeded Russian Anastasia Myskina, who has had trouble putting two wins together ever since choking in the Athens Olympics semifinals where she led then-No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne 5-1 in the third.

In Bali Myskina made her singles debut and exit against Italy's Maria Elena Camerin in the same day, losing 6-2 in the third.

"I can't find my game," Myskina said. "I tried to do my best but somehow it didn't work...This is my bad day and this is my worst defeat this year."

Aside from the Olympics, that is.

Camerin for her part kept cool in the high temperatures.

"I took a shower during the 10-minute break before the third," said a giggly Camerin. "I told myself to play good like I did in the first set and I managed to do it."

Myskina was in Bali almost a week before her match and complained she didn't have enough time to get acclimated. Kuznetsova had no such problem with even less time after coming from her US Open win.

"I know my level is better than today," Kuznetsova said. "I just have to play my game and try to feel the ball as much as I can."

Also advancing into the quarters were No. 4 seed Nadia Petrova (d. Marrero), and three more unseeded players in Indonesian wildcard Angelique Widjaja (d. Barna in three much to the delight of locals), Italian comer Tathiana Garbin (d. Bartoli who retired after losing the first eight games due to heat illness), and Germany's Marlene Weingartner (d. (Q) Nakamura).

The Friday QF line-up is Camerin vs. Dulko, Garbin vs. Petrova, Widjaja vs. Kuznetsova, and Weingartner vs. Cho.

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