World number one Roger Federer advanced to the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open with a 6-2 6-4 triumph over Evgeny Korolev.
Swiss player continues to shine in Qatar, Nadal also advances
World number one Roger Federer advanced to the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open with a 6-2 6-4 triumph over Evgeny Korolev of Russia.
The Swiss star, who has only lost two matches in five appearances at the Doha tournament, broke serve three times in the first set and once in the second on the way to sealing the second-round win.
"I know how he plays so I had the match under control," said Federer.
"He plays a lot of balls on the forehand, so I was able to stay ahead in the match. There were long rallies in the second set, but I am pleased to have reached the quarter finals."
Federer, who won the Qatar event in 2005 and '06, will face Latvian Ernests Gulbis on Thursday after he beat Italian Andreas Seppi 6-4 7-5.
He was later joined by world number two Rafael Nadal, who needed just 72 minutes to beat Italy's Potito Starace 6-2 6-2.
Nadal now plays Belgian Steve Darcis, who booked his spot in the final eight with a 6-3 6-1 win over Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco, while Lukasz Kubot of Poland defeated Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-2 7-6 (7-5).
Fifth-seeded Serbian Viktor Troicki saw off Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-2 6-2, while third seed Nikolay Davydenko of Russia beat Swiss Marco Chiudinelli 6-3 6-4.
Seventh seed Ivo Karlovic came from a set down to beat Benjamin Becker of Germany, the big-serving Croatian prevailing 4-6 6-3 6-2 to set up a meeting with Davydenko in the quarter-finals.
