Roddick, Blake enter Rome Masters quarter-finals

STRONG REPLY: United States' James Blake returns a ball to Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka during their men's quarter-final match.

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Keywords: Rome Masters, Tennis

Rome: Most years, Americans wilt on the red clay courts of the Foro Italico.

Not this year.

Andy Roddick and James Blake reached the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters on Thursday, marking the first time two Americans have reached the last eight since Andre Agassi won the French Open warmup in 2002.

The sixth-seeded Roddick beat rising local favourite Simone Bolelli of Italy 7-6 (5), 6-3 - silencing a partisan crowd - and No. 8 Blake rallied past Fernando Verdasco of Spain 5-7, 7-5, 6-2.

"Who would have thought we would have a couple Americans making up a quarter of the draw in the quarter-finals," Roddick said. "I guess we landed on the moon."

The last time two or more Americans got this far in Rome was in 2002, when Roddick and Blake joined Agassi in the quarters.

"I'm actually moving OK and I'm getting better height on the ball than I think I normally do," Roddick said of his clay-court game. "For me, it's just a matter of getting a couple matches, but I don't always give myself that opportunity."

Blake beat another Italian on Wednesday, Andreas Seppi, and reached his first career clay-court final in Houston, Texas, last month, losing to Marcel Granollers.

Blake said he has learned how to become more defensive, use drop shots effectively, and slide into balls.

"I'm not trying to change my game too much, not necessarily stepping back and playing like a David Ferrer or anyone that moves far back," Blake said. "I'm just still playing my game on clay."

In 2004, Blake had a freak accident in Rome that nearly ended his career. He fractured vertebrae in his neck after colliding into the net post during a practice session.

Roddick will next face either No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko or No. 14 Tommy Robredo. Blake plays Stanislas Wawrinka, who ended Juan Carlos Ferrero's run with a 6-4, 6-3 win.

On Wednesday, Ferrero ousted three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal.

In the other half of the draw, top-ranked Roger Federer picked his shots carefully to get by towering Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Federer improved to 6-0 in his career against the 2.08-meter (6-foot-10) Croat.