The world's top two men's tennis players - Roger Federer of Switzerland and Spain's Rafael Nadal - have reached the quarterfinals of the men's Dubai Tennis Championships in the United Arab Emirates.
Federer, the tournament's top seed, scored a 7-5, 6-3 win over Daniele Bracciali of Italy. In the next round, Federer plays seventh seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who beat Rainer Schuettler of Germany (7-6, 6-3).
Nadal, the second seed and defending champion, took three sets to beat Igor Andreev of Russia, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6. Nadal plays another Russian, Mikhail Youzhny, who was a 7-6, 6-3 upset winner over sixth seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.
Fifth seed Tommy Haas of Germany defeated Florent Serra of France, 7-6, 6-3. Haas next plays Belgian Olivier Rochus, a three-set winner over Nikolay Davydenko of Russia (4-6, 6-4, 6-2).
Frenchman Fabrice Santoro made the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over compatriot Gilles Simon. Santoro faces Sweden's Robin Soderling, who ousted Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia (6-3, 7-5).
Last year, Nadal beat Federer in the finals, one of four times the Spaniard beat the world number one. Federer defeated Nadal at Wimbledon and the Tennis Masters Cup in China. The Dubai tournament is being played outdoors on hard courts and offers a $300,000 first prize.
