Wawrinka Moves into Qatar ExxonMobil Open Quarterfinals

Doha, January 08 (QNA) -Stan Wawrinka overcame a mini blip at the beginning of the second set to ease past Jeremy Chardy of France 6-3, 6-4 and booked his place in the quarterfinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha on Tuesday. Top seed Wawrinka was off to a good start at the bright blue court at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex and won the first set 6-3, but he was broken in the second game of the second set and was trailing 0-3. But Wawrinka got his serve and his groundstrokes going and kept his focus to win the next five games to make it 5-3. Though Chardy managed to hold his serve to make it 5-4, there was no stopping world No 15 Wawrinka who sealed it win an ace. Wawrinka will play Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene, who defeated Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-3, 7-5, in the quarterfinals. Earlier, eighth seed Frances Tiafoe of the US was dumped out of the tournament in the first round by Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, who won 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Fifth seed Laslo ere of Serbia also entered the second round, after defeating Lorenzo Sonego of Italy 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 Cem Ilkel of Turkey defeated Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. In doubles, Germany's Tim Ptz and Denmark's Frederik Nielsen defeated Brazilian Marcelo Demoliner and Matw Middelkoop of the Netherlands 7-6 (12-10), 6-7 (5-7) 10-7 in the round of 16. (QNA)