Top seed and world number 9 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic battled Mikhail Kukushkin to prevail 7-6(7), 7-6(4) and advance at the Shenzhen Open Thursday. The 31-year-old Czech blasted 16 aces to overpower his Kazakh opponent in two sets and secure his quarter-final berth.
Fourth-seed Bernard Tomic of Australia won a two-hour duel with American qualifier Ryan Harrison, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. The 23-year-old right hander hit only 10 aces to Harrison's 20, but held off the American's challenge, saving three break points to book a clash with Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci in the quarter finals.