Tennis: Ram, Erlich easily reach quarterfinals

Israeli duo thrashes Paul-Henri Mathieu and Radek Stepanek 6-2, 6-1 in the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells.

By ALLON SINAI, AP
ram erlich 298.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
ram erlich 298.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Not only are Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich winning practically every match they play these days, but they're doing so in an incredibly convincing fashion. The Israeli duo thrashed Paul-Henri Mathieu and Radek Stepanek 6-2, 6-1 in 48 minutes late Tuesday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells. Ram and Erlich, who are seeded fourth in the prestigious event, lost just nine points on their serve throughout Tuesday's encounter and are in sizzling form ahead of their last eight meeting against sixth seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles. In the women's singles former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated rising Pole Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-4 in the Pacific Life Open quarterfinals on Wednesday. Second-seeded Kuznetsova, trying to return to the final for a second straight year, lost to Radwanska in the Australian Open third round but made sure there would be no repeat this time. The Russian jumped out to 4-0 in the first set, and after losing her serve to love for 3-3 in the second, broke back immediately and served out. Kuznetsova will meet either Australian Open champ Maria Sharapova or defending champ Daniela Hantuchova in the semifinals. On the men's side, Stanislas Wawrinka beat fellow Swiss Roger Federer to the quarterfinals when he outlasted Lee Hyung-taik of South Korea 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. The result is Wawrinka's best in the Masters Series.