BEIJING (AP)—Defending champion Novak Djokovic and fourth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko moved into the quarterfinals of the China Open in Beijing on Wednesday, while Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark moved to within one win of the No. 1 ranking.
Wozniacki’s textbook 6-4, 6-2 win over Italy’s Sara Errani means that if she beats Petra Kvitova in the third round on Thursday, she will replace Serena Williams as the top-ranked player.
Top-seeded Djokovic profited when American Mardy Fish withdrew from their scheduled night match with an injury to his left ankle.
But Fish’s fellow American John Isner went through, winning 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3 against German Philipp Kohlschreiber in a tight match that saw a combined 33 aces from the two big serving players.
Isner will face Davydenko after the Russian became the eighth active player to win 400 matches after a 7-5, 7-5 victory against big-serving Croat Marin Cilic, who fired five aces but could only save three of seven break points.
“It was a very good match for me,” said Davydenko. “(My) baseline (play) was good control and I played fast.”
German qualifier Michael Berrer, who accounted for fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych in the previous round, fell to Gilles Simon, 6-7 (8), 6-4, 7-6 (4) in a match lasting three hours and seven minutes.
Elsewhere in the women’s tournament, second-seeded Vera Zvonereva came from behind against fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko to book her quarterfinal place. After giving up the first set, Zvonereva ratcheted up her serve, firing five aces to win 5-7, 6-4, 2-4.
Earlier, 15th seed Shahar Peer of Israel became the first player into the final eight, taking just 59 minutes to eliminate Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski, 6-1, 6-2.
Jovanovski, who knocked out third-seeded Jelena Jankovic on Monday, broke Peer only once while losing her serve five times.
“I’m very happy. I was playing very well today, very aggressively,” Peer said. “I hope to keep going and play better and better every round this week.”
German Angelique Kerber continued her strong form, strolling to a second-round victory against Romania’s Alexandra Dulgheru, 6-2, 6-1.
Francesca Schiavone of Italy battled to a three-set victory over Vera Dushevina, seeing off the Russian 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.