Andreev, Becker, Lopez reach Basel qtrs
Friday, 24 October 2008
BASEL, Oct 23 (AP): Sixth-seeded Igor Andreev needed more than two hours to overcome Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 (6), 6-7 (0), 7-5 at the Swiss Indoors Wednesday and move a step closer to his third final of the year.
Andreev, playing in Basel for the first time, fired 17 aces to reach his eighth quarterfinals of the year. He's advanced to finals in July in Gstaad and Umag.
The Russian was joined in the last eight by Feliciano Lopez of Spain, who upset eighth-seeded Mardy Fish of the United States 7-6 (9), 6-4, and Benjamin Becker, who beat fellow German Andreas Beck 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. In first-round action, fourth-seeded James Blake defeated Germany's Nicolas Kiefer 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Blake needs to go deep in the tournament to have any chance of making the eight-man Masters Cup for a second time. He's 10th in the standings.
Marcel Granollers of Spain, who beat Blake for his first ATP title at Houston in April, defeated 2005 Basel finalist Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
Baghdatis, bothered all season by injuries, needed treatment again to his troubling back during his first match in three weeks.
Jarkko Nieminen of Finland defeated Eduardo Schwank of Argentina 6-2, 6-4, and Belgian qualifier Kristof Vliegen beat German wild card Philipp Petzschner 6-2, 6-3.
Andreev, playing in Basel for the first time, fired 17 aces to reach his eighth quarterfinals of the year. He's advanced to finals in July in Gstaad and Umag.
The Russian was joined in the last eight by Feliciano Lopez of Spain, who upset eighth-seeded Mardy Fish of the United States 7-6 (9), 6-4, and Benjamin Becker, who beat fellow German Andreas Beck 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. In first-round action, fourth-seeded James Blake defeated Germany's Nicolas Kiefer 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Blake needs to go deep in the tournament to have any chance of making the eight-man Masters Cup for a second time. He's 10th in the standings.
Marcel Granollers of Spain, who beat Blake for his first ATP title at Houston in April, defeated 2005 Basel finalist Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
Baghdatis, bothered all season by injuries, needed treatment again to his troubling back during his first match in three weeks.
Jarkko Nieminen of Finland defeated Eduardo Schwank of Argentina 6-2, 6-4, and Belgian qualifier Kristof Vliegen beat German wild card Philipp Petzschner 6-2, 6-3.