Agassi on course in Nasdaq

Agassi had to work hard against Lapentti

Click here for Wednesday's results from Miami

Defending champion Andre Agassi moved into the semi-finals of the Nasdaq-100 Open with a straight-sets win over Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti in Miami.

The American beat Lapentti 6-3 7-5 to set up a last-four encounter with either 1998 champion Marcelo Rios of Chile or Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela.

Agassi seemed to be cruising to victory when he broke Lapentti to take a 4-3 lead in the second set.

But Lapentti then produced some magical shots and Agassi contributed some unforced errors as both players proceeded to drop their serve at will.

Routine win

Agassi, serving at 6-5, finally clinched victory after saving two break points to complete his fifth victory over Lapentti in as many meetings.

He will now play 1998 champion Marcelo Rios, who swept past Juan Ignacio Chela of Chile 7-6 (0) 6-2, on Friday.

Earlier, world number one Lleyton Hewitt raced into the quarter-finals with a routine 6-4 6-1 win over American James Blake.

Hewitt, looking to make it three straight tournament wins after San Jose and Indian Wells, kept his focus to wrap things up following a rain break which came with him leading 6-4 3-1.

Wheelchair event

In the last eight the top seed will play sixth-seeded Russian Marat Safin, who beat Chilean qualifier Fernando Gonzalez 6-3 6-3.

In the wheelchair event, British number one and world number nine Jayant Mistry came from 5-3 down in the first set to secure a straight sets victory over American Derek Bolton in the first round.

Fourth seed Mistry beat Bolton 7-5 6-4 to set up a quarter-final against Laszlo Farkas of Hungary.

Mistry also came through the first round of the men's doubles with partner David Hall.

The second seeds beat Laszlo Farkas and Carlo Tresch 6-0 6-3.

This is the 14th year that the wheelchair championship has taken place alongside the mainstream ATP and WTA draws.

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Mens' singles fourth round:

Lleyton Hewitt (Aus) bt James Blake (US) 6-4 6-1
Andrei Pavel (Rom) bt Franco Squillari (Arg) 1-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-1
Marat Safin (Rus) bt Fernando Gonzalez (Chi) 6-3 6-3

Quarter-finals

Andre Agassi (USA) bt Nicolas Lapentti (Ecu) 6-3 7-5
Marcelo Rios (31), Chile, def. Juan Ignacio Chela, Argentina, 7-6 (0), 6-2.

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