Novak Djokovic continued his quest for a first title at the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters while Roger Federer kept alive his bid for a sixth as the seeded pair advanced into the quarterfinals on Thursday.
The contrast between the wins could not have been more stark, with top seed Djokovic crushing Belgian qualifier David Goffin 6-2, 6-0 in just 50 minutes.
Federer is seeded fifth and was the winner here a year ago. He had to rally from the depths after a disaster of an opening set, finally overhauling German Tommy Haas 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Federer will face off for the 31st time against long-time rival and last week’s Montreal champion Rafael Nadal, who was tested by Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov but won 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.
Tursunov stuns Ferrer
Russian qualifier Dmitry Tursunov upset third seed David Ferrer 6-2, 6-4 as the Spaniard now leaves town with one win from two Masters events over the past fortnight.
Paes, Bopanna to lock horns
Meanwhile, India’s top doubles players, Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna have set up the quarterfinal against each other after recording wins with their respective partners.
Leander and his Czech partner Radek Stepanek, seeded fourth, got the better of Polish pair of Jerzy Janowicz and Lukasz Kubot 6-3, 6-4 in their second round match.
In the other match, eighth seeds Bopanna and French Edouard Roger-Vasselin edged past Italy’s Andreas Seppi and Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny 7-5, 6-3.
Radwanska pulls out
Fourth seeded Agnieszka Radwanska pulled out on Thursday to attend the funeral of her grandfather in her native Poland.
The results:
Men: Singles: Third round: Novak Djokovic bt David Goffin 6-2, 6-0; Dmitry Tursunov bt David Ferrer 6-2, 6-4; Juan Martin del Potro bt Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 1-6, 6-4; Roger Federer bt Tommy Haas 1-6, 7-5, 6-3; John Isner bt Milos Raonic 7-6(5), 6-4; Andy Murray bt Julien Benneteau 6-2, 6-2; Rafael Nadal bt Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 5-7, 6-2; Tomas Berdych bt Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-0.
Doubles: Second round: Leander Paes & Radek Stepanek bt Jerzy Janowicz & Lukasz Kubot 6-3, 6-4; Rohan Bopanna & Edouard Roger-Vasselin bt Andreas Seppi & Mikhail Youzhny 7-5, 6-3.
Women: Third round: Victoria Azarenka bt Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-4; Roberta Vinci bt Sara Errani 6-4, 6-3; Jelena Jankovic bt Sloane Stephens 3-6, 7-5, 7-5.
Li Na bt Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-4; Agnieszka Radwanska bt Elena Vesnina 6-0, 6-2; Serena Williams bt Mona Barthel 6-4, 6-1; Simona Halep bt Samantha Stosur 6-4, 4-6, 6-2; Caroline Wozniacki bt Petra Kvitova 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
