Djokovic makes winning return

Novak Djokovic won his first ATP Tour match since the US Open to reach the quarter-finals of the Thailand Open.

Soderling awaits top seed in quarter-finals

Novak Djokovic won his first ATP Tour match since the US Open to reach the quarter-finals of the Thailand Open. Djokovic, who has played only one Davis Cup singles rubber since his semi-final defeat to Roger Federer at Flushing Meadows, beat Simon Stadler 6-1 6-3 in Bangkok. The top seed will face sixth seed Robin Soderling for a place in the last four after the Swede defeated Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-1 6-3. Djokovic is making his first appearance in Thailand since losing in the first round as a teenage wild card four years ago. He swept through the opening set in just 22 minutes as world number 141 Stadler's inexperience showed. The German hit back with a break at the start of the second set to take a 2-0 lead, but Djokovic won six of the next seven games to complete a routine win. Djokovic, the Australian Open champion, is bidding for his fourth tournament victory of the season. Nicolas Mahut moved into the last eight by beating Finnish fifth seed Jarkko Nieminen 6-4 3-6 6-3, while there were also wins for Jurgen Melzer and Philipp Petzschner.