Top seed Nikolay Davydenko cruised into the quarter-finals of the ATP Proton Malaysian Open with a straight-sets win over Taylor Dent.

The Russian defeated the American wild card 6-3 7-6 (7/4) to claim his place in the last eight in Kuala Lumpur.

Davydenko's compatriot Mikhail Youzhny was an even more comfortable winner, defeating Cypriot wild card Marcos Baghdatis 6-2 6-3.

Robin Soderling, the third seed from Sweden, was also a second-round winner today, thrashing American qualifier Brendan Evans 6-1 6-1.

In first-round action in Kuala Lumpur, German Simon Greul edged Belgian Christophe Rochus 6-4 3-6 6-2 and French duo Richard Gasquet and Gael Monfils advanced in straight sets.

Gasquet powered past Romania's Victor Crivoi 6-1 6-2 while fifth seed Monfils saw off Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 7-6 (7/3) 7-6 (7/2).