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Djokovic reaches last eight in Vienna

Top seed Novak Djokovic reached the quarter-finals of the BA-CA Trophy on Thursday, comfortably beating Czech Tomas Zib 6-4, 6-4.

It was a routine victory. The only surprise was that after breaking to love in the opening game, the Serb immediately dropped his own serve in similar fashion.

But then his big forehand did the damage that was expected of it, and although Zib competed well he never presented any danger to Djokovic's progress.

Zib netted a backhand to give Djokovic a further break for 3-2, and Djokovic forced a forehand error to break at the same stage in the second set before closing out the match with his seventh ace.

"I played as much as I needed to play to win and I'm happy I didn't lose too much energy so I can save it for upcoming matches," Djokovic said.

Feliciano Lopez has never failed to reach the quarter-finals in Vienna in his three previous appearances, and he did so again with a difficult victory over Austria's Stefan Koubek.

The Spaniard, who claimed the title in 2004, won 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

A break for 1-0, after Koubek held a game point, was enough to give Lopez the opening set, and an early break also decided the second after Koubek broke to lead 2-0 when Lopez hit a double-fault.

In the deciding set, Lopez fought off a break point in the first game, and eventually claimed victory on his fourth match point by breaking Koubek in the final game.

Seventh seed Juan Ignacio Chela reached his 10th quarter-final of the season, beating Austrian Jurgen Melzer 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

David Nalbandian's disappointing season continued as he was defeated 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 by Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka.

James Blake and Jarkko Nieminen set up a quarter-final repeat of last year's final at the Stockholm Open with victories on Thursday.

Nieminen struck first with a 6-0, 6-4 thrashing of Australian Peter Luczak in Thursday's second round.

Blake then comfortably beat 22-year-old Canadian Frank Dancevic 6-3, 6-2.

Blake, who now stands 12-0 at the venue, broke for 5-3 on the way to claiming the opening set, then repeated twice in the second to advance in less than an hour.

Croatian Mario Ancic crushed Swede Bjorn Rehnquist 6-1, 6-3, for a place in the last eight at his first event since a trial fitness run in August on the ATP.

Thomas Johansson is the last home hope after beating Michael Llodra 6-4, 7-6 (12/10).

Croatian Ivo Karlovic won without firing a shot as Swede Joachim Johansson was unable to play due to illness. Arnaud Clement beat Michael Ryderstedt 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-3.
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