Champion Haas edges into Memphis quarters

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, Feb 23 (Reuters) Defending champion Tommy Haas needed two tiebreaks to reach the Memphis International quarter-finals with a 7-6 7-6 win over American Amer Delic.

In a match that did not contain a single break point, the German, champion in 1999 and 2006, clinched victory in one hour, 27 minutes yesterday.

Haas will next play American wildcard Sam Querrey, who upset French seventh seed Julien Benneteau 6-3 6-4.

''I think we both served well today and it was very close,'' the second seed told reporters. ''It really just came down to a couple of tiebreaks and I just won a couple of points there. He almost came back in the second one, but it was a good win.'' Third seed Andy Murray, looking for back-to-back titles after his victory in San Jose, beat Dane Kristian Pless 6-3 7-6.

The Briton faced just one break point and, after breaking serve once to win the first set, he played a good tiebreak in the second to win it 7-4 and set up a quarter-final against Austrian Stefan Koubek.

Fourth seed Mardy Fish slammed 22 aces on his way to a 6-1 7-6 win over Argentine Juan Martin del Potro.

The American saved two set points before winning the tiebreak 11-9 to set up a quarter-final clash with Russian qualifier Teimuraz Gabashvili.

''I can't serve any better than that,'' Fish said. ''I felt there was a little dip in the second set but I served really well.'' Fish, who has reached the quarter-finals in four of his five events this year, was full of praise for his 18-year-old opponent, the youngest player in the draw.

''This kid's going to be really good. To get into the top 100 at 18, I can't even fathom doing that and he already has a reputation out here already for being dangerous and someone who is on the rise.'' Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan also advanced when sixth-seeded Austrian Juergen Melzer retired at 7-6 1-1 down because of a stomach illness that has affected several players in the tournament.

Top seed Andy Roddick plays German Benjamin Becker in the last remaining second-round match later.

REUTERS PDS RN0636