Djokovic moves into Adelaide quarter-finals

PERTH, Jan 3 (Reuters) Top seed Novak Djokovic moved into the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International today after another handsome group victory at the expense of Australia's Alun Jones.

The Serbian world number 16, who hammered Czech Jan Hajek 6-0 6-1 in his first group match on Tuesday, was not stretched by the home wildcard and won 6-1 6-2 to book his place in the last eight.

The Adelaide tournament is the first in 2007 to test the new ATP format with an initial 32-player field whittled down to 24 in an elimination round before eight pools of three players are formed.

The eight pool winners make up the quarter-final lineup.

American Paul Goldstein became the first player to advance after victory in his second pool contest against Australian Peter Luczak.

Luczak and Goldstein had both beaten fifth seed Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia in their opening pool matches and the Australian missed two set points in the first set tie-breaker before the 29-year-old American wrapped it up 10-8.

Playing in 35 degree Celsius heat, Goldstein then took the second set 6-1 and will now play Djokovic in the quarters.

Czech third seed Radek Stepanek, who recently became engaged to former women's world number one Martina Hingis, kept his hopes alive with a 4-6 6-2 6-2 win over Russian Evgeny Korolev.

Vince Spadea of the United States can eliminate Stepanek with victory in his final pool match against Korolev on Thursday.

Germany's Benjamin Becker, the man who ended Andre Agassi's career at last year's U.S. Open, crashed out with a 7-5 6-1 loss to French sixth seed Arnaud Clement.

Clement faces Australian wildcard Chris Guccione for top place in their group tomorrow.

REUTERS PM VV1727