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Friday, Mar 16, 2007
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Murray ousts Davydenko

INDIAN WELLS: Andy Murray added to his strong start this season with a 7-6(3), 6-4 victory over Nikolay Davydenko in Wednesday's fourth round of the Pacific Life Open.

Murray has won 18 of 21 matches in 2007, including successfully defending his title at San Jose.

On another day of heat above 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit) at Indian Wells, No. 14 Murray had 10 aces, with his serve topping out at 219 kph (136 mph), against his fourth-ranked foe from Russia.

``I served great,'' said the 19-year-old Murray from Scottland. ``I think it was about playing the big points better than the guy who's No. 4 in the world.

``It's about me playing a really good match and managing to come through.''

Steady climb

Murray is continuing his steady climb up the rankings, jumping from No. 514 in 2004 to 65th in 2005 to 17th last season. His victory over Davydenko was his second in four meetings, the first coming in the semifinals at Doha in January.

Tommy Haas extended his match record this year to 20-3, the most wins on the tour, with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Fernando Gonzalez. Haas had lost both his previous matches against Gonzalez, including a defeat in the Australian Open semifinals in January. David Ferrer of Spain defeated countryman Carlos Moya 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 in another fourth-round match.

In a night match, Daniela Hantuchova defeated Shahar Peer 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(5) in a 2 hour, 43-minute duel to move into the women's semifinals. Earlier, Li Na downed Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 7-5 in their quarterfinal.

No. 17 Li, China's best player ever, had defeated No. 9 Jelena Jankovic in straight sets a day earlier.

Li bounced back to wrap up the victory after she was down set point twice in the 10th game of the second set.

The 25-year-old Li, the first Chinese player to break into top 30 in the rankings, also is the first from her country to win a tour singles title, at Guangzhou in 2004 as a qualifier ranked 145th.

Paes-Damm move up

Leander Paes and his Czech partner Martin Damm entered the quarterfinals.

The fifth seeds defeated Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski of Poland 6-3, 7-5 in the second round of the ATP tournament.

The results:

Men: Fourth round: Andy Murray bt Nikolay Davydenko 7-6(3), 6-4; Novak Djokovic bt Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-1; David Ferrer bt Carlos Moya 1-6, 6-2, 6-3; Tommy Haas bt Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-2.

Women: Quarterfinals: Li Na bt Vera Zvonareva 6-4, 7-5; Daniela Hantuchova bt Shahar Peer 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(5). — Agencies

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