Tennis: Rios dumps another seed

Former world number one Marcelo Rios sent another seed packing in the Australian Open in Melbourne today, and did so in straight sets.

Chilean Rios, currently ranked only 48th after a series of injuries, defeated 23rd seed Nicolas Lapentti 7-5 6-1 6-4.

Lapentti, from Ecuador, had come from two sets down to win his previous match against Argentine Gustavo Gaudio, but in another all-South American battle Rios refused to relinquish his grip.

Runner-up to Czech Peter Korda in 1998, Rios is through to his first Grand Slam quarter-final since the French Open three years ago.

The 26-year-old, now married with a six-month-old daughter, had back trouble in 1998, then a year later had groin surgery.