Top seed Tomas Berdych is through to the quarter-finals of the Shenzhen Open after defeating American Austin Krajicek in straight sets in the second round.
– Wuhan: Sharapova struck by another injury in comeback
– MWTC: Nadal and Raonic confirmed for Abu Dhabi
– Davis Cup: Belgium to host final against Britain in Ghent
Berdych, who received a firstround bye, overcame an early break of serve in the first set to fire down 11 aces and eventually claim a 7-5 6-3 victory.
The world number five will face fellow Czech Jiri Vesely after the sixth seed comfortably beat Chinese qualifier Zhizhen Zhang 6-2 6-3.
Elsewhere, third seed Tommy Robredo is safely through after a clinical display saw him beat Japanese qualifier Hiroki Moriya 7-5 6-3.
Robredo, who lost to Andy Murray in last year’s final, secured a break of serve in the 11th game of the first set before claiming the set 7-5.
Both players exchanged three consecutive breaks early in the second set, with Robredo grabbing the third break to go on and seal his place in the quarter-finals.
The Spaniard will face Simone Bolleli after the Dominican eighth seed Victor Estrella Burgos retired hurt whilst trailing 0-6 0-4 in their second-round encounter.
In Kuala Lumpur, Australian No 7 seed, Nick Kyrgios, whose mother is Malaysian, continued his ‘home’ success by reaching the quarterfinals with a routine 6-3, 6-2 win over Japan’s Tatsuma Ito in 55 minutes.
Kyrgios next takes on Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic, who fired 18 aces to beat Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.