Andy Roddick made his earliest exit in nine years from the Queen's Club grass-court championships when he was ousted in the third round by 14th-seeded Dudi Sela of Israel Thursday. Roddick, a four-time champion at Queen's, lost 6-4, 7-6 (8). Top-seeded Rafael Nadal survived a fierce challenge from Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, reaching the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 victory. Nadal needed a trainer after the second set to work on an upper right leg complaint. Sela will next face Germany's Rainer Schuettler, who had a walkover when 11th-seeded Richard Gasquet withdrew with a back injury. Seventh-seeded Sam Querrey of the US advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) win over Marcel Granollers of Spain, while No. 8 Feliciano Lopez beat Julien Benneteau of France 6-2, 6-4. Federer in quarterfinals In Germany, top-seeded Roger Federer eased into the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open by beating Alejandro Falla of Colombia 6-1, 6-2 Thursday. The Swiss player needed just 52 minutes to overcome Falla, and will play Philipp Kohlschreiber in the last eight after the German's 6-4, 7-5 victory over Federer's countryman Marco Chiudinelli. Germany's Benjamin Becker, world ranked 52nd, caused an upset when he knocked out the second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia 6-3, 6-4. Becker next faces compatriot Mischa Zverev, who beat sixth-seeded Jurgen Melzer of Austria 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3). Sharapova wins twice In England, Maria Sharapova won both of her matches Thursday to reach the quarterfinals as the Aegon Classic began to overcome delays caused by three days of showers. After a first-round bye, it took Sharapova three days to complete her first win on grass this year, a 6-0, 6-3 defeat of US Fed Cup player Bethanie Mattek-Sands. She was then back on court for only 65 minutes for an even more impressive 6-3, 6-1 success against Alla Kudryavtseva, the fellow Russian who sensationally upset her at Wimbledon two years ago. Next for Sharapova will be Kazakh qualifier Sesil Karatantcheva, who beat defending champion Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2. Fourth-seeded Yanina Wickmayer also won twice Thursday against Laura Robson, the 16-year-old former Junior Wimbledon champion from Britain, and Tamarine Tanasugarn from Thailand. Top-seeded Li Na of China beat Anne Keothavong of Britain 6-2, 6-4, then was tied with Angelique Kerber of Germany after two sets before darkness stopped play. Also through to the quarterfinals were fourth-seeded Aravane Rezai of France, and American qualifier Alison Riske, who will face Wickmayer Friday.
