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Davydenko powers past Baghdatis

Nikolay Davydenko proved far too classy for Marcos Baghdatis © Getty Images

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Day Four Gallery
Paris women's tennis

Nikolay Davydenko continued his relentless form of 2010 by overwhelming Marcos Baghdatis 6-3 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the ABN AMRO Indoor Tournament in Rotterdam.

Davydenko has only lost to Roger Federer this year and on this form he may even be considered favourite to beat world No. 2 Novak Djokovic to the Rotterdam title. The Russian was simply dominant against Baghdatis, leaving the Cypriot looking up at his camp in disbelief as the match reached its climax.

Baghdatis was only able to make an impact on his opponent's serve on one occasion; by comparison, Davydenko took five of his seven break opportunities. One particularly clever shot against Baghdatis' momentum, which earned Davydenko a break of serve in the second set, had Baghdatis smiling a wry smile as he visibly conceded to the better player.

Davydenko was almost impenetrable behind his own serve, converting 83% of first serves into points, and he wrapped things up in one hour and 17 minutes to advance to the next round.

World No.2 Novak Djokovic showed glimpses of his best as he eased past Marco Chiudinelli 6-4 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals, where he receives a walkover into the semis thanks to an injury to Florian Mayer.

In a rematch of last month's Australian Open, where Chiudinelli stunned his opponent to take the opening set, Djokovic dropped just three points on his serve to take the opening set 6-4. The world No. 54, who dropped out of the rankings in 2008 after knee surgery, was unable to find a response to the inch-perfect passing shots of the No. 4 seed.

After a crucial break early in the second set, Djokovic was cruising, and looked to have plenty left in the tank as he remains on course to win his first title in Rotterdam.

Fourth seed Gael Monfils survived an early fall with the net post to knock out home favourite Thiemo de Bakker 6-3 6-2. Monfils appeared to trip while stretching for the ball at the net and narrowly avoided hitting his head on the net post during a gruelling first set in which the Dutch No. 1 saved seven break points. After overcoming early difficulties with his serve, Monfils got the crucial first break of serve for the set 6-3.

De Bakker provided little resistance in the second as the world No. 13 found his rhythm and stormed to a 4-0 lead. The Dutch No. 1 fought back to hold two service games, but by then it was too little, too late and a dominant Monfils took the victory. He will now face sixth seed Mikhail Youzhny who produced a solid performance to see off a spirited display from Turkish qualifier Marsel Ihlan 6-4 6-4.

Also into the last eight is Jurgen Melzer, who enjoyed a routine 6-2 6-2 victory over Andreas Seppi. Melzer showed some deft hands at the net as he forced Seppi to pass him time and again, breaking the Italian's opening two service games at the start of the second set to ease through.

In the SAP Open in San Diego, Andy Roddick was clinical against 22-year-old Argentine Leonardo Mayer in the second round. The world No.7 served 74% of his first efforts in and gave up no break points on his way to a 6-3 6-2 victory.

Fernando Verdasco fired down 13 aces on his way to victory over Benjamin Becker. Verdasco met stern resistance in the first set but came through in straight sets 7-5 6-2.

The second-seed will target a semi-final berth in his first appearance at this tournament when he takes on qualifier Ricardis Berankis in the quarters, after the Lithuanian got past Bjorn Phau 7-6 6-3.

Michael Russell delighted the home fans by upsetting Xavier Malisse 6-4 7-5 to reach his first ever ATP Tour quarter-final.

In the all-American second round tie, seventh-seed Sam Querrey beat Taylor Dent in straight setes 6-4 6-4.

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