Top seeded Roger Federer advanced with relative ease to the quarterfinals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open by defeating Greg Rusedski 6-3, 6-4. Federer will face No. 7 seed Feliciano Lopez.

The left-handed Spaniard booked his place in the quarterfinals by winning his match against Italian qualifier Uros Vico 6-2, 7-6 (6).

No. 3 seed Sebastien Grosjean confirmed his strong comeback to the tennis courts since the U.S. Open by routing Hyung-Taik Lee of Korea 6-3, 6-0. He will play No. 5 seed Nikolay Davydenko, who defeated Karol Beck 7-6(2), 6-2.

Young Spaniard Rafael Nadal displayed great tennis in his 6-4, 6-2 win over fellow countryman Fernando Verdasco. The talented 18-year-old will play No. 6 seed Ivan Ljubicic for a place in the semifinals after posting a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Marc Lopez.

In the bottom quarter of the draw, Fabrice Santoro saved one match point at 4-5 in the third set in a hard-fought battle with Gael Monfils for a final 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 scoreline. Santoro will play Albert Costa for a spot in the final four. The 2002 Roland Garros champion advanced with ease over Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli 6-3, 6-2.

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:

Federer: �It was a very consistent performance from my side. I had a good start, took my chances, he didn�t, and I think that made the difference in the end. Of course I can play better but I can also play much worse.�

�I�m very happy with the start to the season because it has been two consistent matches in a row, and I havn�t lost my serve. It couldn�t be better.�

About playing Feliciano Lopez in the quarterfinals: �It will be a tough match, he is a great athlete. I expect a tough match, I hope I�ll come out on top like the other times I�ve played him so far.�

Santoro: �Again it was a tough game today against a tough opponent. I�m very happy to still be alive. It was a very exciting experience playing him. He [Monfils] is already a great although he is only 18 and today was probably the first and the last time I have an opportunity to beat him because I think he will be very, very good in the future.�

Grosjean: �I did a good job today. I played pretty well, better than yesterday. I�m really hapopy with the way I played, I was more aggressive and I didn�t really let him play his game.� �To be in the quarters here in Doha, in the first tournament of the year, is really good for my game and for my confidence.�

QUARTERFINALS PREVIEW

In Day Three of the Qatar Exxon Mobil Open, top seed Roger Federer, the INDESIT ATP 2004 Race winner and World No. 1. In 2004 takes a 3-0 lead over No. 7 seed Feliciano Lopez for a spot in the quarterfinals. In their last match in Dubai�s 2004 final, Federer won 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Federer achieved one of best seasons in nearly two decades, capturing an ATP-best 11 titles in as many finals, including three Grand Slam and three ATP Masters Series victories. He also became first player since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three Grand Slam titles in a season and fourth player overall in Open Era to win at least three in a year (Connors won three in 1974, Laver won four in 1969). Federer is the first player in Open Era to win his first four Grand Slam finals.

Federer comes into Doha�s quarterfinals with an 18-match winning streak (since Athens Olympics) and is enjoying an 18-0 record against Top 10 opponents (23-0 going back to '03 TMC in Houston), defeating every member of year-end Top 10. The 23-year-old plays in Qatar for the second time, having reached the quarterfinals in 2003 (l. to Gambill).

Lopez is currently No. 25 in the INDESIT ATP Entry Rankings and is currently the highest ranked left-handed player in the ATP circuit. The 23-year-old from Madrid, who won his first ATP title in Vienna last year (d. Canas), improved his ranking for the ninth consecutive year in 2005 by finishing No. 25 with a 33-27 record.

No. 3 seed Sebastien Grosjean will look to keep his strong comeback to the tennis courts when he faces No. 8 seed Nikolay Davydenko for a place in the semifinals. It is the first time they meet in an APT event.

Grosjean comes off straight set wins over Gilles Muller and Hyung-Taik Lee and currently ranks No. 15 in the INDESIT ATP Entry Rankings. Last season, he became the first Frenchman to finish in Top 20 for five consecutive years since Yannick Noah from 1981-89. He also reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open (l. to Agassi) and semifinals in Wimbledon (l. to Federer). Grosjean struggled with a left thigh injury in 2004, having to retire against Agassi in the Australian Open quarterfinals and after losing in second round at US Open, he did not play the rest of season.

Last season, Davydenko enjoyed his best year in the ATP circuit since turning pro by reaching the quarterfinals or better in seven tournaments and finishing no. 28 in the INDESIT ATP Entry Rankings. He won his third and fourth ATP titles in Munich (d. Verkerk) and Moscow (d. Rusedski) respectively.

No. 6 seed Ivan Ljubicic will face talented young Spaniard Rafael Nadal for a spot in the semifinals. It will be their first ATP meet. The 25-year-old Croat and last year�s finalist finished in the top 25 for first time in his career in 2004. He won a personal-best 37 matches and advanced to the quarterfinals or better in seven tournaments. The No. 1 Croat played well in ATP Masters Series tournaments with SF showings in Hamburg (l. to Coria) and Madrid (d. No. 5 Henman, l. to Nalbandian) along with 3rd RD in Miami and Monte Carlo. He finished the season in style with quarterfinal showings in Metz and Basel, and reaching the semifinals in Madrid.

Nadal comes off two strong straight-set victories over No. 4 seed Mikhail Youzhny and Fernando Verdasco. He finished 2004 ranked No. 51 in the INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking. He was one of only two players (Henman also) to defeat No.1 Federer and No. 2 Roddick in 2004. He also won his career-first ATP event in Sopot (d. Acasuso).

In the last quarterfinal of the day in the centre court, 2002 Roland Garros champion Albert Costa takes a 3-1 lead over Fabrice Santoro for a place in the last four. In their last encounter in the round of 16 of Montreal 2001, Santoro won 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.

Santoro comes off a grueling victory over Gael Monfils 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 overcoming one match point in the third set. He enters 2005 ranked No. 52 in the INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking after a solid 2004 season. His best results came in Toronto (l. to Federer) and Cincinnati (l. to Robredo), where he reached the quarterfinals.

Costa comes off two consecutive straight-set victories against David Sanchez and Marco Chiudinelli. He enters Doha ranked No. 56 in the INDESIT ATP Entry Rankings. He is playing at Doha for the second time and has with his second round win, he improved on his previous best result (l. to Vinciguerra in 2nd round � 2003).

IGOR ANDREEV, TOMAS CIBULEC, ALBERT COSTA, NIKOLAY DAVYDENKO, GILLES MULLER and RAFAEL NADAL all participated in Kids Clinics at the at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha giving some youngsters a chance to get some useful tips and hit with their idols.