Djokovic snaps up quarter-final spot after Fish pulls out

Champion and top seed Novak Djokovic enjoyed a free ride into the quarter-finals of the China Open on Wednesday after American Mardy Fish pulled out with an ankle injury just hours before the match.

“Mardy damaged his left ankle during his first round game and has gone to hospital for a scan,” an ATP official told reporters.

Fish’s misfortune meant Djokovic could enjoy a relaxing day in the Chinese capital on a day when other competitors tried to play through the smoggy conditions described as “hazardous” by the U.S. embassy in Beijing.

Women’s top seed Caroline Wozniacki, who had a bye into the second round, will begin her bid to topple Serena Williams from the top of the rankings by the end of this week against Italy’s Sara Errani.

Second seed Vera Zvonareva booked her place in the last eight after downing fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko 5-7 6-4 6-2 in a two hour 39 minute tussle.

Men’s fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko struggled to tame towering Croatian Marin Cilic, eventually winning 7-5 7-5.

“It was very good match for me. My baseline control was good and I played fast as I believed that was the way to win today,” said Davydenko whose next test will be against another beanpole, American John Isner.

Isner, who is best known for winning the longest ever tennis match 70-68 in the fifth set at this year’s Wimbledon, enjoyed a rather brisk workout when he tamed fellow big server Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 3-6 6-3 in two hours and 13 minutes.