Leander Paes

RHODE ISLAND, July 10: Indian Davis Cupper Leander Paes stormed into the quarter-finals of the Hall of Fame grass-court tennis championships here breezing past Frenchman Stephane Simian 6-2, 6-3.

Seventh seed Paes who fought over three sets to down Fernan Wibier of the Netherlands in the first round, was in a fine nick yesterday to dispose of Simian comfortably.

Paes, ranked 104th in the world, has had a lean run in the singles this season, though he had been performing well in men's doubles at ATP and Challenger tournaments.

Earlier, top seed Alex Radulescu of Germany defeated Australian Ben Ellwood in straight sets but needed a 22-point tiebreaker to advance to the quarter-finals.

Radulescu won the first-set tiebreaker 12-10 and took the second set 6-3 in the second round. Radulescu, ranked 83rd in the world, had defeated American Vince Spadea in the first round. The German reached the third round at Wimbledon and the final of April's Gold Flake Open in India, his first career final as a pro.

Second seed Mark Woodforde bounced Doug Flach 6-3 6-1. Third seed Grant Stafford of South Africa, last year's runner-up, defeated American Luke Jensen 6-2 6-2.

Fourth seed Sandon Stolle of Australia eliminated South African Kevin Ullyett 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4). Fifth seed Sargis Sargsian of Armenia beat American David Dilucia 7-5 6-2. Eighth seed Brett Steven of New Zealand needed three sets to beat American Bryan Shelton 4-6 6-3 6-4, as did David Wheaton to eliminate fellow American Michael Joyce 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-4.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.