Ferrer needs three sets, advances in Japan

Tokyo-- No. 1-seeded David Ferrer recovered from a shaky first set Thursday and won a quarterfinals slot at the $869,000 Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.

Ferrer, who is the event's defending champion, dropped two service games in the first set but didn't face a break point the rest of the way in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Takao Suzuki in a second-round match.

Second-seeded Andy Roddick blasted 20 aces in a 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 win over 14th-seeded Jurgen Melzer in his second-round match while No. 3-seeded Fernando Gonzalez topped Amer Delic, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), fourth-seeded Richard Gasquet blew by Kei Nishikori, 6-1, 6-2, and fifth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro took out No. 11-seeded Jarkko Nieminen, 6-1, 6-3.

There were several upsets Thursday. Ninth-seeded Tomas Berdych upended No. 6 Tommy Robredo, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2; Victor Troicki advanced when seventh-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who was a set up, retired with an abdominal strain; and No. 12 Rainer Schuettler ousted eight-seeded Mikhail Youzhny, 6-3, 6-7 (12-14), 6-4.

Friday's quarterfinal schedule includes Ferrer going against del Potro and Roddick playing Troicki.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.