Fri Oct 24 14:53:24 2008

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Federer, Nalbandian, del Potro advance in Basel; Blake out

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Basel, Switzerland (Sports Network) - Top seeds Roger Federer, David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro were quarterfinal winners at the Swiss Indoors tournament Friday, but American James Blake couldn't make it 4-for-4.

Federer, the top seed and two-time defending champion in his hometown, advanced with a 6-2, 6-3 rout of Italy's Simone Bolelli. He will next face Spain's Feliciano Lopez, who bounced the fourth-seeded Blake, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7).

It marked the second straight victory over an American for Lopez, who took out eighth-seeded Mardy Fish in the second round.

Federer is 6-0 lifetime against Lopez, but the two haven't met since last year's Madrid Masters. The Swiss superstar is gunning for his 57th career title and fourth of 2008. He lost to Andy Murray in the semifinals last week at the Madrid Masters.

The second-seeded Nalbandian posted a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win over German qualifier Benjamin Becker and will next face fellow Argentine del Potro. The third seed was a 6-4, 7-5 victor over sixth-seeded Russian Igor Andreev.

Nalbandian, the Stockholm Open champ two weeks ago, will try to avenge a straight-set loss to del Potro in the third round of last week's Madrid Masters.

Del Potro lost in the quarterfinals last week to Federer, but is having a breakthrough 2008 season. He won four straight tournaments this summer before bowing out to Murray in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open, then reached the final at the Japan Open.

The 2008 Basel champ will take home a first prize of $186,000.