Jankovic, Serena, Federer win

2008-05-15 16:43

Rome - Defending champion Jelena Jankovic and 2002 winner Serena Williams advanced to the Italian Open quarter-finals on Thursday.

In Hamburg, Germany - Defending champion Roger Federer reached the quarter-finals of the Hamburg Masters Series after needing a little over an hour to see off Sweden's Robin Soderling.

The fourth-seeded Jankovic routed Maria Kirilenko 6-1 6-1 and Williams overcame some erratic moments before eliminating Italian wild card Sara Errani 6-4 6-3.

Also advancing was 2005 runner-up Patty Schnyder, who edged last year's Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7).

"I didn't expect such an easy match. Maria is a very good player," Jankovic said. "I just went out with the plan to play aggressively and really go for my shots, and that's what I did."

Jankovic is struggling with a cold, and she had an assortment of tissues and medication that she used on changeovers.

"The doctors gave me a lot of things to take, and that's what I have to do to play," she said.

Last year, Jankovic won this clay-court tuneup for the French Open without dropping a set, registering the best week of her career.

Serena Williams improved to 22-2 this year and 9-1 on clay. She is aiming for her fourth title of 2008.

Making a name for himself

The 60th-ranked Errani gave Serena some trouble with her consistent play, but the American eventually overpowered her, connecting on 22 winners to Errani's seven.

Federer, the world number one has now only lost one set to the Swede in their six meetings and the Swiss master had no problems as he recorded a 6-3 6-2 win in just one hour six minutes.

Having beaten Spain's clay-court king Rafael Nadal in last year's final, Federer will now meet Fernando Verdasco in Friday's last eight clash.

Earlier, seeded pair Argentine Juan Monaco and Spain's David Ferrer both crashed out of the tournament as they suffered third rounds upsets.

Italy's Andreas Seppi is starting to make a name for himself after he removed his second consecutive seed from the draw with a straight sets win over 12th seed Monaco to reach the quarter-finals.

Having knocked out French number one Richard Gasquet on Tuesday 6-3 6-2 in the second round, Seppi inflicted a 6-0 6-3 defeat on Monaco and is likely to face fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko in the last eight.

And fifth seed Ferrer went out when he was beaten 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 by Verdasco in the third round.

- AP