Tue Jan 1 15:13:40 2008

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Davydenko, Murray move on; Robredo loses in Qatar

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Doha, Qatar (Sports Network) - Top-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko and third-seeded Brit Andy Murray posted season-opening wins, while second-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo went by way of the upset Tuesday at the Qatar Open, an Australian Open tune-up.

The world No. 4 Davydenko drubbed German qualifier Benedikt Dorsch 6-3, 6-0, while Murray drilled Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-0, 6-2 on the hardcourts at Khalifa Tennis Complex. Murray was last year's Doha runner-up to Croat Ivan Ljubicic.

Up next for Davydenko will be crafty Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, while Murray will meet German Rainer Schuettler.

Robredo, meanwhile, succumbed to Argentine Agustin Calleri 6-4, 6-4, and another upset came when Belgian qualifier Christophe Rochus surprised 6- foot-10 fifth-seeded Croat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

Eighth-seeded Russian Dmitry Tursunov moved on by besting Spaniard Albert Montanes 6-2, 7-5.

Additional wins came for Germans Nicolas Kiefer and the former Aussie Open runner-up Schuettler, Serbian Janko Tipsarevic and Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka. The wild card Schuettler titled in Doha in 1999 and was the runner-up here in 2000. Tipsarevic will battle the reigning Doha titlist and fourth-seeded Ljubicic here on Wednesday.

The 2008 Aussie Open will commence January 14.