News

World No.2s Rafael Nadal and Vera Zvonareva advanced to the Round of 16 on a day filled with surprises at the Western & Southern Open.

 

While Christina McHale defeated World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, Los Angeles semifinalist Alex Bogomolov Jr. took out Montreal semifinalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Additionally, Australian Sam Stosur advanced to the Round of 16 with the withdrawal of Serena Williams.

 

Nadal, who won the French Open this year, defeated Gstaad quarterfinalist Julien Benneteau 6-4, 7-5. A semifinalist in Cincinnati in ’09 and ’08, the Spaniard lost to current World No. 1 Novak Djokovic both times.

 

Zvonareva, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, defeated Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-0 in her match on Center Court. The winner at Baku and Doha this year, Zvonareva next faces Petra Martic, who upset the No. 17 seed Yanina Wickmayer.

 

McHale, who received a wild card into the main draw, scored her biggest win to date by taking out the No. 1 seed Wozniacki. Earlier this year, the New Jersey-native saw her best Tour result by advancing to the Charleston quarterfinals.

 

Meanwhile, American Bogomolov, who’s currently ranked a career-high No. 50, defeated Tsonga in straight sets. He next faces World No. 4 Andy Murray.

 

Stosur, last year’s French Open runner-up and a finalist in Toronto this year, advanced to the next round after Williams withdrew due to the aggravation of a right toe injury. She now faces 2011 French Open champion Li Na.

 

In other results for the men, top-ranked American Mardy Fish, who currently leads the Olympus US Open Series, defeated Nikolay Davydenko and No. 12 seed Richard Gasquet took out Kevin Anderson.

 

For the women, 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone defeated Maria Kirilenko in three sets, ’08 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic bowed out to College Park winner Nadia Petrova and former World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic beat Zheng Jie of China.