World No. 1 Roger Federer relied on his all-around game Thursday to move into the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open, beating hard-hitting German qualifier Denis Gremelmayr 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour.
Second-seeded Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, however, had to struggle for two hours, 15 minutes to overcome Justin Gimelstob of the US 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (9).
Hewitt came back from 3-5 in the final set and denied the American four match points to win the heart-pounding second round battle.
PHOTO: EPA
Three of those saves came in the tie-break, with the Australian finally coming out on top on his second match point after Gimelstob served a double fault.
Federer secured an early break in his second game Thursday, which was enough to earn him the first set. He appeared more at ease than in Wednesday's shaky first round 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory over Marcos Daniel of Brazil
His impressive serves put him up 2-0 in the second set, and at 5-2, Federer held his serves comfortably to win the match, which ended when Gremelmayr hit a backhand passing shot wide.
Federer will go up next against Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, who bested eighth-seed Luis Horna of Peru, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-3 in another match Thursday.
In other second round matches, 18-year-old Andrew Murray of Britain upset fifth-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden 7-6 (3) 7-6 (5). Seventh-seed Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, the Asian No. 1, defeated Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, 7-5, 6-4, and in the day's closing match, Wang Yeu-tzuoo, Taiwan, upset fourth-seeded Tommy Haas of Germany, 7-5, 6-3.
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