WASHINGTON, 14 July 2006 — Britain’s Alex Bogdanovic, American Justin Gimelstob and Denmark’s Kristian Pless advanced to the quarterfinals of the ATP Hall of Fame Championships by finishing rain-interrupted matches yesterday.

Bogdanovic, who led 2-1 when showers stopped play Wednesday, ousted Swiss George Bastl 6-1, 7-6 (8-6), to book a today’s quarterfinal date against Austrian sixth seed Jurgen Melzer.

Gimelstob, the eighth seed, eliminated Australian Wayne Arthurs 6-1, 7-6 (8-6). The Aussie had led 3-2 in the second set when rain halted play.

Next up for the US veteran is Pless, who ousted Chilean Paul Capdeville 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. They had only finished the first set when rain stopped play in the $380,000 grasscourt event.

Top seed Andy Murray, a Scottish teen who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, was leading US wild card Sam Querrey 5-3 and about to serve for the set when rain returned, stopping the only singles match was to to begin yesterday. No top seed in the event’s 30-year history has ever taken the title, but Murray’s route to the final looks good. If he dispatches Querrey he will book a quarterfinal against another US wild card, Robert Kendrick.

Robredo Enters Swedish Open Quarterfinals

In Bastad, Sweden, second seed Tommy Robredo outclassed German Alexander Waske 6-3, 6-1 yesterday to reach the Swedish Open quarterfinals.

Waske had no answer for the powerful baseline strokes of Robredo, who is chasing his fourth career title after winning the Hamburg Masters in May. The Spanish world No. 9 served impeccably and needed 72 minutes to dispose of the German to set up a match in the last eight against Russian qualifier Evgeny Korolev.

Robin Soderling kept home hopes alive with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 win over Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer.

Gaudio Overcomes Bad Weather and Rochus to Reach Last 8: Swiss Open

In Gstaad, Switzerland, defending champion Gaston Gaudio overcame more bad weather and an improving opponent to book a place in the quarterfinals of the $535,600 Swiss Open yesterday.

The Argentine second seed overcame Belgium’s Christophe Rochus 6-0, 6-4 in a match originally due to take place on Wednesday but postponed because of persistent rain in the Swiss Alps. After a commanding performance in the opening set, Gaudio took the next two games before Rochus broke back to 3-3 and rain again interrupted play.

In the little play that was possible earlier yesterday, seventh seed Richard Gasquet of France sailed into the last eight with a 6-1, 6-1 demolition of Czech Robin Vik.

Belarusian Eighth seed Max Mirnyi made an early exit, however, losing 6-2, 6-4 to Romania’s Andrei Pavel.