Verdasco breaks into quarterfinals

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- No. 2-seeded Fernando Verdasco claimed six service breaks during a straight-set win Thursday in the second round of the $947,750 Malaysian Open.

Verdasco took a close first set and dominated the second for a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Karol Beck. Verdasco had three breaks in each set and won 60 percent of the points when Beck served.

He faces Richard Gasquet in Friday's quarterfinals. Gasquet had 26 aces in beating Joachim Johansson 4-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 in the second round. Johansson blasted 24 aces himself but managed just three in the decisive third set.

Fourth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez was a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victor Thursday over Rohan Bopanna and drew Mikhail Youzhny for his quarterfinal foe.

Gael Monfils, seeded No. 5, ran his match winning streak to seven with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Martin Vassallo. He plays tournament top-seed Nikolay Davydenko on Friday.

The fourth quarterfinal has No. 3-seeded Robin Soderling meeting sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych, who made the Friday schedule with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 triumph over Simon Greul.