Thailand's Danai Udomchoke proved that size doesn't matter when he reached his first quarter-final in an ATP event after upsetting Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic in the second round of the US$500,000 Beijing Open yesterday.

Danai, who stands only 173cm tall, was too good for the 208cm tall Karlovic and won the match which was billed as "the giant versus the dwarf".

The small Thai was not intimidated by the big Croatian's rocket serves and took the first set 6-2 and was leading the second set 3-1 when his rival retired with a knee injury.

It was Danai's best run on the professional tour and the first time he has survived past the second round. Danai said Karlovic played with a bandaged right knee, but did not show any signs of injury.

"His serves were still tough and he still moved okay. But I had great returns, even on his first serves," said Danai, who had no problem tackling one of the fastest servers on the tour.

"I got them back and kept the ball in play. I moved him whenever I had the chance. I didn't return with top spin, which would make it easy for him," added Danai, now ranked No 122 in the world.

A tough assignment awaits Danai in Friday's quarter-final where he will meet world No 9 Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus. However, Danai will go into the meet with a slight edge over his high-profile opponent, whom he beat 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 in Campos Do Jordao, Brazil, two years ago.

"I beat him before, but he is a far better player now. I think we have the same style of play, but he is more powerful," said the 25-year-old Danai, whose compatriot Paradorn Srichaphan is scheduled to compete in round two against Japan's Satoshi Iwabuchi today.

Meanwhile, Russian ironman Nikolay Davydenko and Australian Open finalist Baghdatis recorded wins while top seed Ivan Ljubicic took in the splendour of the Great Wall.

Second seed Davydenko's victory came just 36 hours after he arrived in Beijing from his US Open semi-final loss to Roger Federer.

The Russian, who has played almost every week this season, shrugged off the effects of the journey as he defeated Dane Kenneth Carlsen 6-3 6-4.

Third-seeded Baghdatis was untroubled by Yeu-Tzuoo Wang of Taiwan, going through 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 after struggling in his opening match a day earlier. The Cypriot winner made his Chinese debut this week after losing in five sets to Andre Agassi in New York.

Wang went out to Roger Federer in the first round of the Grand Slam a fortnight ago and was beaten in Beijing in 2005 by Rafael Nadal.

But top seed Ljubicic was a man at leisure for the day, making the top seed's obligatory Great Wall visit at Gubeikou, around 130 kilometres from the capital.

The section, built during the Ming Dynasty, boasts 35 watch towers over 5.2 kilometres. Ljubicic was suitably impressed. "It's very hard to get here, a long drive and a long walk up here," said the Croatian, who faces American Kevin Kim today.

"It's not easy but it's definitely worth it. You can see way up and way down. It's just fantastic and the weather is beautiful as well.

"All through my life I have read so many things about it and seen the pictures. But to actually sit here and to see it with your own eyes, that's unbelievable."

Davydenko, who has won three titles this season, next faces Slovenian Luka Gregorc.

The Russian lost a serve in the second set against the 33-year-old Carlsen, but put it down to a lapse.

"It was not such a tough match," Davydenko said, after winning the 16th of his last 19 matches. "He didn't put any pressure on me. I won easily."

The Nation, Agencies

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