Top-seeded James Blake took down another teenage opponent on Thursday to book his berth in the quarterfinals of the $436 000 US Men's Clay Court Championships.

Blake cruised to a straight-sets victory over 15-year-old qualifier Ryan Harrison 6-3, 6-2.

The 28-year-old Blake, who is seeking his first title since the Pilot Pen in New Haven last August, also defeated 18-year-old Kei Nishikori of Japan on Wednesday.

Blake overcame his struggles on clay courts to advance to the quarterfinals. The world number eight, who improved to 33-34 on this surface, will face fifth-seeded Argentinian Agustin Calleri.

On Tuesday, Harrison became the third-youngest player in 18 years to win an ATP match, defeating Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay.

Ranked 1277 in the world, the Texas resident joined Richard Gasquet of France and current world number two Rafael Nadal of Spain as the only 15-year-olds to win a match since 1990.

Calleri posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Chilean Paul Capdeville earlier in the day. Calleri converted 4-of-15 break-point chances.

"Today I played very well. I stayed focused all the time because Paul is a really good player," Calleri said.

In other action, unseeded American Wayne Odesnik upset sixth-seeded Dudi Sela of Israel 6-3, 7-5.

Odesnik will face Argentina's Sergio Roitman, a 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) winner over Russian Igor Kunitsyn.

Seventh-seed Spaniard Marcel Granollers-Pujol advanced to the round of eight with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Australian Peter Luczak.

Granollers-Pujol will face Marcos Daniel of Brazil, who beat Chile's Nicolas Massu 7-6 (7/3), 6-2.

AFP