Karlovic advances to Chennai quarterfinals

Jan 8, 2009 - 4:30 PM CHENNAI, India (Ticker) -- Ivo Karlovic's path to the Chennai Open final has become a bit easier.

The fourth-seeded Croat advanced to the quarterfinals of the $450,000 hardcourt event on Thursday with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over unseeded Czech Ivo Minar.

Sixth-seeded Carlos Moya appeared to be the likely opponent for Karlovic in the quarters, but the veteran Spaniard was upset, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, by wild card Somdev Devvarman.

A native of India backed by the partisan crowd, the 202nd-ranked Devvarman will be appearing in his first ATP quarterfinal when he clashes with the hard-serving Karlovic.

The 6-10 Croat, who led the ATP with 981 aces in 2008, blasted 16 past Minar in Thursday's triumph.

Karlovic became the highest remaining seed in the field when top seed Nikolay Davydenko withdrew due to a heel injury Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Karlovic faces a potential semifinal match with No. 5 Rainer Schuettler, who advanced to the quarters with a 6-4, 6-2 win over German countryman Simon Greul.

Awaiting Schuettler is unseeded compatriot Bjorn Phau, a 6-1, 6-2 winner against Italian qualifier Flavio Cipolla.

Czech wild card Lukas Dlouhy reached the round of eight via walkover against Davydenko and will meet eight-seeded Spaniard Martin Granollers, who posted a 6-4, 6-1 win over Germany's Andreas Beck.

Third-seeded Croat Marin Cilic and No. 7 Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia also moved through and will clash in the quarterfinals.

First prize is $73,000.