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Tursunov through to Thailand Open quarters

Russia's Dmitry Tursunov shrugged off exhaustion to book a place in the Thailand Open quarter-finals in Bangkok yesterday, downing France's Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-4 in the second round.

Tursunov arrived in Bangkok straight from helping Russia defeat Germany on the weekend to reach the Davis Cup final.

The California-based Tursunov joked that he had recovered from days of gruelling tennis in Moscow by sleeping on the flight over to Bangkok.

"I had a few late nights in Moscow," he said. "The first match this week was more difficult for me."

"[But] I moved better today. It's all about staying focused on a goal, even for a short period," Tursunov said of his victory, which came in just 62 minutes.

Tursunov today faces Taiwan's Wang Yeu-tzuoo, who defeated Australian teenager Nick Lindahl 6-3, 6-3.

Ranked 29 in the world, Tursunov this week ended a run of three straight first-round defeats over the summer by downing Austria's Werner Eschauer.

He secured his second career ATP title last July at Indianapolis.

In other matches, Spanish eighth seed Fernando Verdasco fought back from one set down to defeat 23-year-old Canadian Frank Dancevic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The Bangkok tournament suffered hammer blows after world No. 2 Rafael Nadal (knee), US open finalist Novak Djokovic (fatigue) and world No. 5 Andy Roddick (foot) withdrew.

Nadal and world No. 3 Djokovic never arrived in Thailand while Roddick withdrew an hour before his scheduled start in the first round.

The ailing event also lost South Korea's Lee Hyung-taik, the top Asian on the ATP tour.

Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt walked into the second round of the Mumbai Open yesterday after thumping Taiwanese qualifier Chen Ti 6-3, 6-3.

The second-seed Australian now meets Serbia's Boris Pashanski, who rallied to down Argentina's Sergio Roitman 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 in his first outing in Mumbai.

Hewitt, 26, was scheduled to open his campaign on Wednesday, but the match was postponed due to rain.

He was also initially a doubtful starter after pulling out of a crucial Davis Cup tie against Serbia in Belgrade on Sunday with a viral infection.

Ivan Navarro of Spain also advanced to the second round with a 6-4, 6-1 win over India's Purav Raja. He will meet eighth-seed Olivier Rochus of Belgium in the next round.

Venus Williams coasted into the Korea Open quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Thailand's Tamirine Tanasugarn yesterday.

Despite wearing strapping on her right leg, the top-seeded Williams made short work of Tamirine on an overcast afternoon before heavy rain forced a suspension of play at Olympic Park with two second round matches remaining.

"It was a good game," Williams said. "It was good to finish when we did, it was about to rain. The rain blowing in different directions made it difficult, but it was a good experience."

The Wimbledon champion played down any problems with her leg.

"From yesterday, my right calf hasn't been feeling great but I was able to play and it's fine," she said.
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