February 24, 2007	Saturday	Safar 6, 1428

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MEMPHIS (Tennessee), Feb 23: Andy Roddick and Andy Murray both advanced Thursday in the second round at the 865,000-dollar ATP and WTA tournament. The top seeded Roddick and the third-seeded British teenager are one win away from a rematch from a week ago.

Murray beat Roddick in the semi-finals at San Jose last weekend en route to winning the title.

Roddick on Thursday turned back German Benjamin Becker, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, while Murray beat Dane Kristian Pless, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to advance to the quarter-finals.

Haas, the second seed from Germany, downed American Amer Delic 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5) to book a quarter-final date Friday against American Sam Querrey, who upset French seventh seed Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-4.

Taiwan's Lu put himself in the quarter-final path of Roddick by advancing 7-6 (7/2), 1-1 when Austrian sixth seed Jurgen Melzer retired due to a stomach illness.

US fourth seed Mardy Fish eliminated Argentina's Juan Martin Del Porto 6-1, 7-6 (9/7). He faces Russia's Teimuraz Gabashvili in the quarter-finals.

In the women's draw, American Venus Williams continued her comeback with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 triumph over countrywoman Laura Granville to advance to the semi-finals.

Williams is making her first appearance in more than four months because of a nagging wrist injury.

She next will face Ioana Raluca Olaru. —AFP