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Roddick, Blake reach Rome eight

Henin upset in German Open

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Andy Roddick and James Blake advanced Thursday to the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters, marking the first time in six years two Americans reached the final eight.

Roddick silenced a partisan crowd with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over Simone Bolelli of Italy, and Blake rallied past Fernando Verdasco of Spain 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.

Top-ranked Roger Federer defeated towering Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (4), 6-3 on clay, and the American's victories - on their weakest surface - came a day after three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal was ousted.

The last time two or more Americans reached the quarterfinals in Rome was 2002, when Roddick and Blake joined eventual champion Andre Agassi.

Roddick is playing his first tournament on clay this year, and improved to 23-4 overall this season.

Novak Djokovic also advanced with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win against Igor Andreev. This tournament is a clay-court tuneup for the French Open, which begins May 25.

German Open - Top-ranked Justine Henin was upset by Dinara Safina 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 Thursday in the third round of the German Open, derailing efforts to regain form ahead of the French Open.

Serena Williams breezed to her 17th straight win, ousting Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals. Defending champion Ana Ivanovic struggled past Sybille Bammer 7-5, 4-6, 5-4 and third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova lost to Alona Bondarenko 1-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Henin's loss to the 17th-ranked Russian followed a 6-2, 6-0 drubbing by Williams at the Sony Ericsson Open last month, the worst for a No. 1 player in nine years. Maria Sharapova also defeated her in straight sets at the Australian Open.

TENNIS

In the first-set tiebreaker, Roddick drew Bolelli to the net and sent a high ball to his backhand, setting up a winner to take a 4-3 lead. Bolelli fought back to 5-5, then netted two forehands to hand Roddick the set.

Roddick broke Bolelli's serve in the opening game of the second set, and cruised from there.

Federer improved to 6-0 overall against the 6-foot-10 Croat.

"It's difficult to judge against him. Ivo has an unbelievable serve, probably the best we have in the game," Federer said. "And he comes to the net too, so there's always a lot of pressure."

Karlovic served 12 aces, routinely registering above 136 mph.

Federer tried to lob Karlovic early on, but eventually discovered that his best solution was passing shots.

In the first-set tiebreaker, Federer took control with a return winner off Karlovic's first serve to go up 6-4, then closed out the set by making Karlovic reach too far for a volley.

Federer landed a forehand on the line to finally break Karlovic's serve and take a 3-2 lead in the second set, then broke again to close out the match when Karlovic missed a volley.

Federer will next face Radek Stepanek, who defeated Peruvian qualifier Luis Horna 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

Nadal, bothered by a blister on his foot, lost in straight sets to 2001 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero on Wednesday. The second-ranked Spaniard lost on clay for only the second time in 105 matches.

"I feel bad for Rafa," Federer said. "He's had such a great run the last few years. Now there's a chance for some other players."

Novak Djokovic also advanced with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win against Igor Andreev.

The Australian Open winner will play Spanish clay-court specialist Nicolas Almagro, who advanced when Fernando Gonzalez pulled out with a right leg injury.

Ferrero, the only former Rome winner still in the draw, was to play Stanislas Wawrinka.

This tournament is a clay-court tuneup for the French Open, which begins May 25.