MUNICH — Top-seeded Andy Murray began his clay-court season with a routine 6-2, 6-2 victory over local qualifier Mischa Zverev to reach the BMW Open quarterfinals Thursday. Zverev had little of the patience needed on clay, while Murray mixed his shots well.
Murray, who has never won a title on clay, will next face Lukas Rosol. The Czech beat Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine for the first time, 7-5, 6-2. Dominic Thiem of Austria upset eighth-seeded Fabio Fognini, last year's Munich runner-up, 6-3, 6-0.
Pablo Andujar, last week's runner-up in Barcelona, retired when he was down 4-1 against Gerald Melzer of Austria.
Dimitrov wins
In Istanbul, second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov eased into the quarterfinals of the inaugural Istanbul Open by beating Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan 6-3, 6-2 Thursday.
Third-seeded Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay had to work much harder to book his place in the last eight, needing two hours and three sets to beat Ukraine qualifier Teymuraz Gabashvili, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Cuevas will face Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil, who beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 7-6 (4), 6-3.
On Wednesday, top-seeded Roger Federer gave a demonstration of his service skills as he beat Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 7-5.
Pliskova in semis
Top-seeded Karolina Pliskova advanced to the Prague Open semifinals by beating fellow Czech and wild card Denisa Allertova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 Thursday. On Friday, Pliskova will play Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, who rallied from a set down to defeat qualifier Danka Kovinic of Montenegro 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Unseeded Katerina Siniakova beat another Czech, third-seeded Barbora Strycova 6-4, 6-2, and will next face qualifier Lucie Hradecka, who defeated wild card Klara Koukalova 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 for her first win in five meetings between the Czechs.
Anderson falls
In Portugal, South Africa's Kevin Anderson joined the exodus of Estoril Open seeds Thursday when he slumped to a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 defeat to Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on the back of nine double faults.
The exit of second-seeded Anderson left the rebranded claycourt event without its top four players even before the quarterfinal stage.
Top seed Feliciano Lopez lost 24 hours earlier, number three Tommy Robredo withdrew injured while fourth seed Leonardo Mayer was another early victim. On Wednesday, Dutchman Robin Haase saved two match points as he came from behind to beat top-seeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will miss the Madrid Masters next week to rest as he attempts to complete the career Grand Slam at next month's French Open.
“The Serbian announced that he will not compete at the Caja Magica and will take a period of rest before continuing his planned schedule at the tournaments in Rome and Roland Garros,” the tournament organizers said in a statement Wednesday. — Agencies
