KITZBUEHEL, Austria, 25 July 2003 — Seventh seed Gaston Gaudio of Argentina survived a spirited challenge from local favorite Werner Eschauer to reach the quarterfinals of the Generali Open yesterday.

Gaudio, the most consistent player on clay this season with 33 victories behind him despite failing to clinch a title so far, beat the unseeded Austrian 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a thrilling third round battle at this 925,000 euro clay event. The 29-year-old Eschauer, surprise conqueror of defending champion Alex Corretja in the second round, saw the Argentine gain the upper hand in the final set as the Austrian’s hitherto powerful serve deserted him.

Gaudio, who squandered several points due to foot-faulting, next faces 13th seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain, who advanced after Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu retired mid-set with an ankle injury.

In other third-round play, Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti, the 2001 champion, overwhelmed 11th-seed Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-1 to set up a clash against Chile’s Nicolas Massu. Massu, on a roll after winning eight matches in a row, including the final of the Dutch Open last week, swept aside 14th seed Sargis Sargsian of Armenia 6-2, 6-2.

Paradorn Escapes Shock From

College Student Delic

In Indianapolis, second seed Paradorn Srichaphan saved two match points before sparing his blushes with a 6-7, 7-6, 6-1 second round win over American amateur Amer Delic as the RCA championship’s on Wednesday.

However, there was no such escape for defending champion Greg Rusedski who crashed out to Scott Draper in three tough sets. Paradorn, the Thai whose three ATP tour titles have come on hardcourts, was slow respond to the unexpected danger posed by his 6-foot 5-inch opponent, who is still a student at the University of Illinois.

Delic, the 2003 NCAA singles champion, is yet to turn professional but his big serve helped him carve out two match points with Paradorn trailing 6-7, 5-6.

Experience told, however, as the world No. 11 forced two consecutive errors from Delic before going on to impose himself on the contest.

Briton Rusedski was blown off course by a brief storm and an inspired Draper as the Australian battled out a 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 win.

Rusedski, seeded 10 and looking to underline his return from a lengthy injury lay-off, was a set and 4-3 up in their second round match when rain forced a delay, but the former US Open finalist was tamed by Draper when they resumed.

Rusedski had beaten fellow left-hander Draper in all eight of their previous encounters, so his capitulation after the 20-minute rain break at the Indianapolis tennis center added to his frustration.

Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov progressed to the third round with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Serbia and Montenegro’s Janko Tipsarevic, while Belgium’s Xavier Malisse set up a third round meeting with the US’ Jan-Michael Gambill by defeating Rajeev Ram of the United States 6-2, 6-4.

Frazier Ousts Hantuchova,

Capriati Battles On

In Palo Alto, California, fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova’s recent run of poor form continued when she was sent packing 6-2, 6-4 by Amy Frazier in the second round of the Bank of the West Classic on Wednesday.

Third seed Jennifer Capriati overcame a strong challenge from French teenager Marion Bartoli for a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 victory while Yugoslavia’s Jelena Dokic trounced American Alexandra Stevenson 6-3, 6-2.

The slender Hantuchova, who has failed to reach a semifinal since April, played a sloppy contest against the 30-year-old American. Frazier dominated most of their baseline exchanges and effectively moved the 20-year-old Slovakian around the court.

After Bartoli out-slugged her in the second set behind a huge return of serve and low ground strokes, Capriati regained control in the decider, mixing up her serve and drawing her opponent into several unforced errors from the baseline.

Angela Haynes, an 18-year-old qualifier from Compton, California, the birthplace of the Williams sisters, scored the biggest upset of the day session with a 6-3, 6-4 first-round win over Italy’s Rita Grande.