 Tommy Haas was relieved after his third-set comeback |
Tommy Haas dug deep to beat Romanian Andrei Pavel 6-7 6-1 7-5 and advance to the quarter-finals of the Delray Beach International Tennis Championships. The German fourth seed, who took world number one Roger Federer to five sets at the Australian Open, almost became another upset victim in Florida.
But he rallied from 5-3 down in the decider to clinch a last-eight spot.
"I got a break in the second set and he got a bit frustrated. In the third, I picked my game up a notch," Haas said.
"I've always had tough battles with Pavel."
Haas will next face seventh seed Gilles Muller, who beat American qualifier Jeff Salzenstein 6-3 6-4.
Also advancing on Thursday was Vincent Spadea, who brushed off compatriot Robert Kendrick 6-4 6-1.
Spadea's next match will be against Korean Lee Hyung-taik, a 2-6 6-3 6-4 winner over German Simon Greul.
MMIX
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