Sports of World

Top seeds Somdev Devvarman of India and Anastasia Rodionova of Australia both chalked up straight sets wins to reach the quarter-finals of the Commonwealth Games tennis tournament on Wednesday. Devvarman, the world number 100, defeated Amresh Jayawickrene of Sri Lanka 6-0, 6-1 to reach the last eight, while Russian-born Rodionova ousted Larikah Russell of the Bahamas 6-1, 6-3.

On a day when seeds were again well on top, the only major casualty was English third seed Katie O'Brien who fell 1-6, 7-6, 7-5 to India's Rushmi Chakravarthi.

Devverman, who has broken into the World top 100 this year after enjoying a successful college career in the United States, said that he wanted to move further up the rankings next year into the top 75.

Whilst saying he was pleased with his own game in Delhi, he voiced concern over the Australian threat to his becoming the first-ever Commonwealth Games tennis champion.

"Australia has the deepest team," he said. "They're all seeded. They're all considered favourites, but it will be exciting."

Australians winning through to the last eight included second seed Peter Luczak and third seed Matt Ebden.

Losing out was Scotland's Jamie Murray, brother of world number four Andy, who lost 7-5, 6-0 to English fourth seed James Ward.

The biggest threat to Rodionova is expected to come from Indian glamour girl Sania Mirza, and she comfortably won through 6-0, 6-2 against Brittany Teei of the Cook Islands.

Hugely popular in India as the first female player to win a WTA tournament and through her recent marriage to top Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, Mirza said that playing at home was a distinct advantage.

"It's a little bit expected in a way as I haven't played for a while in India and they are very loud and vocal. But I'd rather have them for me than against me. And they really pull you through."
Quickest win of the day went to Sally Peers, the Australian fourth seed who needed just 26 minutes to see off Irufa Mahir of the Maldives 6-0, 6-0.
Others:
Football World Cup Final Match
Easy wins for Federer and Venus
Vijender wins Bronze in World Championship
World Championship in Milan: Vijender and Co.
FIFA World Cup Superstars
Information on Australian Open!
Roger Federer stays top of ATP rankings