CHENNAI, India, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- World No. 2 Rafael Nadal romped to a round-of-16 victory Thursday at the Chennai Open tennis tournament in India.
Nadal, from Spain, converted four of his seven service break chances in a 6-4, 6-1 win over wild-card entrant Karan Rastogi, from India.
Austrian Stefan Koubek was even more efficient, needing just 47 minutes to oust former event titlist Paradorn Srichaphan, from Thailand, 6-1, 6-2 in his Thursday match.
A pair of French players advanced to Friday's quarterfinals. Fabrice Santoro, the sixth seed, moved on with a 6-4, 6-2, win over German Bjorn Phau and fourth-seeded Julien Benneteau defeated Russian Igor Andreev, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.
The $416,000 tournament continues Friday with quarterfinal play.
Nadal draws Italian Davide Sanguinetti in his match while Santo plays third-seeded Belgian Xavier Malisse. Koubek goes against Benneteau and fifth-seeded Spaniard Carlos Moya meets Croat Ivo Karlovic.
