Story by Matt Osias
Staff Writer

WOMEN'S QUARTERFINAL TO HAVE FINALS FEEL

Last year's Pac Life champion Daniela Hantuchova made quick work of India's Sania Mirza 6-1, 7-6 (4), despite a second set surge. The victory was the Slovak's ninth straight here in the desert.

"I thought it was a great match," Hantuchova said. "Sania is a great hitter. I was expecting really a tough one, and just being able to be in the quarters without losing a set feels really great."

However, now the real test begins, as Hantuchova's quarterfinal opponent is the 2006 tournament champ and world No. 4, Maria Sharapova, who defeated Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko in a hard-fought three-setter 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.

The victory kept intact the Russian's perfect season for 2008.

"I was just tough in the end, and it gets me through a lot of matches," Sharapova said. And the good thing is I give myself an opportunity to play another match."

Also having to dig deep to advance was the No. 1 seed Ana Ivanovic, who managed to come back from a set down to win 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.

American two-time champion Lindsay Davenport upset France's Marion Bartoli 6-2, 7-5, and will next face the No. 3 seed Jelena Jankovic in her quarterfinal match up.

FISH SINKS DAVYDENKO

Of the 11 Americans that began the desert tournament, just two remain, one of which is the unseeded 26-year-old Mardy Fish, who dispatched No.4 Nikolay Davydenko in only 75 minutes 6-3, 6-2. Fish joins James Blake as the last Americans standing in the men's main draw.

Fish won a ridiculous 80 percent of his break point opportunities en route to his fourth round victory. The win also removed a major monkey off his back; ending an eight-match losing skid to Top-10 players.

"If I stay aggressive and I stay on top of my game plan and play well at the same time," Fish said. "I feel like I can really play well and beat some great players."

In order for Fish to keep his Cinderella hopes alive, he will have to go through Aussie Lleyton Hewitt, who took out the No. 13-seeded Mikhail Youzhny 7-5, 6-1. Fish has never beaten Hewitt.

FED EXPRESS DELIVERS

World No.1 Roger Federer continues to dominate his opponents here in the desert, crushing the Frenchman Nicholas Mahut 6-1, 6-1 in just 53 minutes, sending himself to the fourth round. Federer showed no mercy, allowing Mahut to score only 4 points in the final 5 games.

"I enjoy matches like this," Federer said. "For me, having a sensation like I had today towards the end of the second set when you feel everything's going your way, you've got his game perfectly figured out and everything you're trying to do sort of works as well, it's just a good feeling."

Federer will next face the Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, who knocked off No. 15 Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4. Federer has won the last eight matches over Ljubicic.

DUBS

In doubles play, the Bryan brothers began their quest for a desert championship, defeating Jeff Coetzee and Wesley Moodie 6-3, 6-2.

Matt Osias can be reached at mosias@californiatennis.com