Ward into quarter-finals
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
British number five James Ward reached the quarter-finals of the Aegon International in Eastbourne on Wednesday.
Ward, who received a wild card into the ATP tournament, defeated Rainer Schuettler of Germany in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(5), to book his place in the next round.
Schuettler is currently ranked 270 places above the Londoner at 72 in the world. The 34 year old veteran player is a former world number five, Wimbledon semifinalist, and Australian Open finalist.
Ward, 23, will now face world number 47 Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine in the quarter-finals. Dolgopolov beat Yen-Hsun Lu of Chinese Taipei, 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-2, in his second round match.
In the women's tournament, held at the same venue, Elena Baltacha moved into the quarter-finals with victory over world number 24, Jie Zheng of China.
The British number one won in three sets, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. She will now face the third seed, and French Open runner-up Samantha Stosur in the last eight.
Heather Watson's run at the event came to an end as the eighteen year old was beaten by Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Watson, who qualified for the WTA Premier tournament, was defeated in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.