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Lopez advanced to S. African quarterfinals

Thu, 02/04/2010 - 11:01 by shalini.bahadur

Johannesburg, South Africa -- Third-seeded Feliciano Lopez, fueled by 10 aces Wednesday, powered his way into the quarterfinals of the $500,000 SA Tennis Open in South Africa.

The Spaniard won 72 percent of the points on serve in stopping Slovak Blaz Kavcic 6-2, 7-6 (7-4). Lopez dropped just four points when he got his first serve and had a 10-3 advantage in aces.

Fifth-seeded American Rajeev Ram needed nearly two hours and two tie-breakers to record a straight-set, second-round win. He defeated German Bjorn Phau 7-6 (12-10), 7-6 (7-2).

Also advancing to the tournament quarterfinals Wednesday were No. 8-seeded Frenchman Stephane Robert, who stopped South African Izak Van der Merwe 7-6 (9-7), 6-1, and Jamaican Dustin Brown, who didn't face a break point in his 6-4, 6-4 win over France's Laurent Recouderc.

Wednesday's results set up Friday quarterfinals with Lopez playing Ram and Brown going against Robert.

Copyright 2010 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).

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