INDIANAPOLIS (United States), Jul 27 (AFP): James Blake reached his third quarter-final in his past four events on Thursday with an efficient 6-4, 6-2 victory over Ricardo Mello at the Indianapolis tennis championships.
Blake, seeded second behind American compatriot Andy Roddick, is defending the title he won here last year with a victory over Davis Cup teammate Roddick in the final.
Blake lost the title match last Sunday at Los Angeles to Czech Radek Stepanek, and is poised for a rise in form in the run-up to the US Open starting August 27.
The 27-year-old said he likes the state of his game as he advances on the hardcourts.
"It was a tentative start, we were feeling each other out," Blake said of his 149th-ranked opponent in a match played with Super Bowl- winning Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy in the audience.
"I had to attack and not fall into playing his game. He's a guy who can beat you if you do that."
Blake fired eight aces, never faced a break point and broke the Brazilian three times as he won in 66 minutes.
"I opened my game up a bit at the end," said the winner. "After the first break of serve through, I felt the match was mine to take."
Blake moved into a showdown with American youngster Sam Querrey, who toppled towering Croatian Ivo Karlovic 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (8/6) as two of the tallest men in tennis met in the second round.
Querrey, the world number 90, reached his third quarter-final of the season after Memphis and Las Vegas back-to-back in February and March.
Blake books quarter-final tennis clash with Querrey
FE Team | Published: July 28, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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