Paes-Bhupathi storm into quarters

Gimbelstob and Reneberg were very much the better duo in the final set. They made fewer errors, had a better first serve percentage and committed fewer double faults than their rivals. But Paes and Bhupathi converted both their break points, in contrast to their rivals who failed to capitalise on the two they held.

The Indians could consider they lucky. They won the match despite winning fewer points (69-72), serving lesser aces (2-8) and having a lower percentage of first serves (66%-72%).Paes and Bhupathi will now meet unseeded Australian pair Ben Ellwood and Michael Tebbutt.

HINGIS, VENUS THROUGH

Top seed Martina Hingis overcame a long rain delay and third seed Venus Williams was aided by showers as both advanced to the US Open tennis quarter-finals on a downpour-disrupted Sunday.

Rain delayed the start for two hours and 40 minutes, halted play four more times and led to Mary Joe Fernandez slipping on a slick court and hurting her right quadricep muscle in a 2-6 6-1 6-0 defeat.

“That was terrible,” Williams said. “As we exchanged a few shots, it started raining much harder. Then she went down. That was unfortunate.”

Australian Open champion Hingis had more trouble waiting out storms for hours than she did in beating 10th seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-4 7-5, extending her win streak over the Spaniard to 12 matches.

“A long day at the office today, a lot of waiting around,” Hingis said. “You don’t know what to expect. I had lunch at 6:00 when they told us we’re thenight match. I had some pasta but of course you don’t want to eat a huge American portion.”

Williams led 2-0 in the second set when drizzle turned to rain during a point. Fernandez planted her foot to stretch for a backhand and slid. “In the middle of the point, it just started coming down much harder,” Williams said. “After about six or seven strokes it was pretty wet. Play was halted a moment later, but the damage was done. Fernandez was sitting on the court holding her leg in pain as Williams grimaced.

HOW THE SEEDS FARED

MEN SINGLES (3RD ROUND): 5-Gustavo Kuerten (Braz) bt Goran Ivanisevic (Croa) 6-4 6-2 6-4; 7-Todd Martin (US) bt Magnus Larsson (Swe) 6-3 (retd); 9-Greg Rusedski (GB) bt Chris Woodruff (US) 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-4; 14-Tommy Haas (Ger) bt Hicham Arazi (Mor) 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-3).

WOMEN’S SINGLES (4TH ROUND): 1-Martina Hingis (Swi) bt 10-Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Spa) 6-4 7-5; 3-Venus Williams (US) bt Mary Joe Fernandez (US) 2-6 6-1 6-0; Anke Huber (Ger) bt 15-AmelieMauresmo (Fra) 6-4 6-4; 12-Barbara Schett (Aut) bt Elena Likhovtseva (Russia) 6-0 6-1.

OTHER THIRD ROUND RESULTS

MEN’S SINGLES: Jiri Novak (Czech Rep) bt Fabrice Santoro (Fra) 6-1, 6-0, 5-1, retired, Magnus Norman (Swe) bt Richard Fromberg (Aust) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3, Cedric Pioline (Fra) bt Peter Wessels (Neth) 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), Slava Dosedel (Czech Rep) bt Fredrik Johnsson (Swe) 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6) (7-5), 7-6 (8-6), 6-3, Men’s doubles: 3-Todd Woodbridge/Mark Woodforde (Aust) bt Marc-Kevin Goellner (Ger)/Francisco Montana (US) 6-3, 6-0, Ben Ellwood/Michael Tebbutt (Aust) bt Neville Godwin/Marcos Ondruska (SA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2

WOMEN’S DOUBLES: 16-Liezel Horn (SA)/Kimberly Po (US) bt 1-Jana Novotna (Czech Rep)/Natasha Zvereva (Bela) 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, 3-Lindsay Davenport/Corina Morariu (US) bt 11-Conchita Martinez (Spa)/Patricia Tarabini (Arg) 6-2, 6-3, 5-Serena Williams/Venus Williams (US) bt Nana Miyagi (Jap)/Linda Wild (US) 6-4, 6-1, 12-Mary Pierce (Fra)/Barbara Schett (Aut) btJulie Halard-Decugis/Amelie Mauresmo (Fra) 6-2, 6-2.