Dismal day for US in Chennai

THE three seeds in action at the Chennai Open yesterday made comfortable straight-sets progress to the quarter-finals.

Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka, seeded third, saw off American Michael Russell 6-3, 6-4 while

fifth seed Dudi Sela needed a tie-break to claim the opening set against another American, Kevin Kim, after the pair wasted three break points apiece.

He comfortably took that decider 7-3 before two breaks in a one-sided second set earned him a 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 win.

Germany's Michael Berrer was pushed even harder in his opening set against Frenchman Stephane Robert, winning it 8-6 in a tie-break.

But the seventh seed also broke twice to claim the second set and complete a 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 win in an hour and 40 minutes. Slovakian Lucas Lacko was the day's other winner, sinking Robby Ginepri 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to complete a dismal day for the United States.