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Tennis: Top Seeds Almagro To Take On Asian Sole Survivor In Quarter-final

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29(Bernama) -- Top seeds Nicholas Almagro of Spain reached the quarter-final of 2011 ATP Malaysia Open tennis championship held at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil here Thursday night.

The world number 11 edged out his countryman Albert Ramos 7-6(2), 7-6(4) in a tense second round match that lasted an hour and 43 minutes.

"It was a tough match. We had practiced together before in Barcelona a few weeks ago, so I know his game and I think Ramos is going to be one of the important players from Spain," Alamagro told the media after the game.

Almagro, who will take on eight seeded Japan's Kei Nishikori in the quarter-final match tomorrow, said he would try his best to get past the Japanese player for a place in the semifinal.

Meanwhile, Nishikori, who defeated Philipp Petzschner of Germany 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in a stiff match earlier, became the last standing Asian player in the tournament.

Commenting on his game against Petzschner, Nishikori admitted he was struggling with the German's tries and powerful services.

"He served really well so I tried to play more aggresive and it worked. This win means a lot to me," said the 21-year old who is also the highest ranked Asian player in the ATP World Tour List (currently ranked 54).

During the tournament last year, Nishikori who got in as wildcard, was booted out in the first round.

Other seeded players who made it to quarter-final includes Victor Troicky of Serbia (second seeded) who will battle Dmitry Tursunov of Russia (seventh seeded) and Jurgen Melzer of Austria (fourth seeded) who is to take on Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus.

-- BERNAMA

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