Baghdatis didn't let the chance slip away as he closed out the first set with a deft cross-court drive that had Zeng diving in vain.

Zeng bounced back in the second set and managed to improve his returns, which helped him break serve twice to tie the score 5-5. But Baghdatis' greater weight of shot and power serving proved too much for Zeng in crucial points.

Having broken serve to lead 6-5, the world No. 18 set up his first match point with a thumping cross-court forehand and then wrapped up the one-hour and 48-minute match as Zeng hit a backhand into the net.

"It's a pity that I held some chances but failed to convert them to win," said a disappointed Zeng. "If I was given a bit of luck, maybe the result would be different."

His performance won high praise from his opponent.

"It's a tough match," said Baghdatis. "He played really good, and gave me a hard time. I don't know how he played before, but tonight he was pretty impressive."

Having enjoyed a miraculous rise this season when he soared to No 8, the Cypriot is looking to reprise his 2006 Australian Open form to make a splash in Grand Slam events.

But there won't be any easy clashes for him in Beijing as he is expected to face former world No 3 Ivan Ljubicic in the quarterfinals and world No 8 Tommy Robredo in the semis.

Earlier yesterday, Ljubicic, seeking redemption from his third-round exit last week at Flushing Meadows, out muscled Japanese hopeful Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-4.

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