ROTTERDAM — Juan Martin del Potro hit a dozen aces past Ernests Gulbis of Latvia in winning 7-6 (5), 6-3 to reach his first quarterfinals of the year at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament Thursday. The second-seeded Argentine set up a clash against Jarkko Nieminen, who beat Matthias Bachinger of Germany 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 at the Ahoy arena. Marcos Baghdatis beat fourth-seeded Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4 to also reach the quarterfinals. The unseeded Cypriot saved three break points and broke Gasquet once to take the first set and was rarely troubled in the second set as he moved into a quarterfinal against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. Gasquet lined up in Rotterdam as the fourth seed, having already won two tour titles this season and boasting an unbeaten record apart from a defeat to compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Australian Open. But the world No. 10 never got going against Cypriot Baghdatis, who had also beaten him at the London Olympics last year. "Richard was probably tired," said Baghdatis. Defending champion Roger Federer cruised into the second round by beating Grega Zemlja 6-3, 6-1. In the evening's final contest, Grigor Dimitrov beat veteran Nikolay Davydenko 7-5, 6-3 in their second-round match. Isner advances In California, John Isner powered his way into the SAP Open quarterfinals by pounding 14 aces in a 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-3 victory over Canada's Vasek Pospisil Wednesday. The hard-serving American overcame a shaky second set, held off two break points in the third set with aces and finished off the pesky Pospisil behind some pretty passing shots. Isner will play either Xavier Malisse or Matthew Ebden on Friday. "Very, very glad to be sitting here a winner and not a loser thinking about my economy seat to Memphis tomorrow," Isner said, smirking. Isner was forced to travel to San Jose this week by the window, unable to get any extra-leg space for his 2.06-meter (6-foot-9) frame. Two-time defending SAP Open champion Milos Raonic was the top seed, setting up the possibility of a power-packed final should both advance. The 13th-ranked Raonic also had an opening-round bye. The Canadian will play in the second round against Michael Russell, who won an all-American matchup over qualifier Donald Young 6-3, 7-5. Also, Alejandro Falla of Colombia outlasted Flavio Cipolla of Italy 7-6 (1), 7-6 (10); Australia's Ebden beat qualifier Rik de Voest 6-2, 7-5; wild-card Steve Johnson upset Croatia's Ivo Karlovic 6-7 (2), 6-4, 7-6 (6); and fourth-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany beat Canada's Jesse Levine 6-3, 6-1 in the late match. — Agencies
