Australian Open: Murray, Zheng into quarters

MELBOURNE, Australia — Andy Murray overcame big-serving John Isner 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday to set up a possible quarterfinal match against defending champion Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open.

The 22-year-old Scot rated Isner's serve among the best in the game, so he was delighted to wear down the American after a crucual service break in the eighth game of the second set. He fended off break points in the next game to serve out the set.

"It's tough. I had my coach serving at me from the service line this morning to try to get used to it," Murray said of the 6-foot-9 Isner's serve. "But once you get out there it's kind of tricky."

Murray broke serve again in the seventh game of the third set when the American netted a forehand and then smashed his racket into the court in disgust.

"It's been good. I moved really well since the start of the tournament," Murray said. "I didn't drop a set yet ... not too much to complain about."So far.Fifth-seeded Murray faces a daunting quarterfinal as he attempts to win his first major title. Nadal was scheduled to play Ivo Karlovic in the following match at Rod Laver Arena — the winner meeting Murray in the next round.

The loss was Isner's first of the year, which started with his first career ATP title at Auckland 10 days ago.Zheng Jie set another national mark by becoming the first Chinese player to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals when she beat Alona Bondarenko 7-6 (6), 6-4.The 26-year-old Zheng had already matched her own previous best run at Melbourne Park by reaching the fourth round, but is still a win away from equaling her best performance at a Grand Slam tournament.

She made a stunning charge to the Wimbledon semifinals in 2008, becoming only the second wild-card entry to reach the semis at a major and ousting then No. 1-ranked Ana Ivanovic along the way.No. 31-seeded Bondarenka had been on an eight-match winning streak after a title run at Hobart last week, which included a quarterfinal win over Zheng.Zheng was more steadfast in the tiebreaker after the pair traded three service breaks in the opening set.Bondarenka held for a 4-3 lead in the second, but Zheng won the last three games after holding a lengthy service game to level it and breaking player from Ukraine at love in the next.Zheng earned match point with an angled volley and Bondarenko slammed her racket into the court. She put a backhand out next point to give Zheng the win.It was Zheng's first straight sets win this week in Melbourne, where she and No. 16 Li Na set a record as the first two Chinese woman to reach the fourth round at the same major.Top-ranked Roger Federer and Australian hope Lleyton Hewitt both won Saturday to set up a meeting in the fourth round.

The winner of that could meet Nikolay Davydenko in the quarterfinals. Sixth-seeded Davydenko is on a 12-match winning streak, including wins over Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal. But he'll have to get past 2009 semifinalist Fernando Verdasco to get a shot at Federer or Hewitt.
Source:http://www.thereporteronline.com