Estoril, Portugal - American James Blake handed himself a first clay-court quarter-final since Rome a year ago as he defeated Frenchman Marc Gicquel 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 on Thursday at the Estoril Open. The 29-year-old has not been this far on his least favourite surface since May, 2008, when he lost to Stanislas Wawrinka at the Foro Italico.
"Even if I'd not won two in a row, I would have been satisfied with my game. I was really going for my shots," he said a day after putting out Portugal's Frederico Gil. "I really like the way I'm playing."
The 11-8 (in 2009) Blake added: "I'm now playing my style and it feels great. I'm aggressive and that's how I have to play to do well."
His next test will come from eighth seed Florent Serra, who beat him three years agoin their only other clay meeting. The Frenchman booked his spot by defeating Argentine Juan Monaco 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
Blake now stands a solid 2-2 on dirt after arriving for his Portugal debut 0-2 with losses in Houston a month ago and Rome last week.
The Florida-based player with 11 titles - ten on fast courts and six in the US - was unruffled by nine Gicquel aces as he ran his record against the number 51 to 2-0.
Blake broke twice in 79 minutes to advance comfortably in hot sunshine which has characterised the week and helped speed up conditions.
"I played better in this match than my first one, my serve picked up in the second set but Gicquel made me work for every point. That first set could have gone either way."
Three seeds lost on the women's side as the semi-finals took shape.
Israeli Shahar Peer, seeded seventh, beat Jarmila Groth of Slovakia 6-2, 0-6, 6-3 to face off Friday against Belgian Yanina Wickmayer, a winner over number three Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.
Russian sixth seed Ekaterina Makarova beat holderMaria Kirilenko 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 and will aim for the first title of her career when she takes on Anna-Lena Groenefeld.
The German advanced as compatriot and Charleston clay champion Sabine Lisicki, seeded fourth, quitquit trailing 6-2 with a shoulder injury.
