Top-seeded Steve Johnson advanced to the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships quarterfinals Wednesday, beating Japan's Yuichi Sugita, 6-1, 6-4. Coming off a career-best finish in a Grand Slam, the 26-year-old Johnson needed just 20 minutes to win the first set and 59 to close the match. It was his first on Newport's grass this week after the top four seeds were given byes. Johnson was one of six Americans in action Wednesday on the grounds of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Defending champion Rajeev Ram, a two-time winner in Newport — also in 2009 when he won his only other career ATP tourney — lost to seventh-seeded Dudi Sela of Israel, 6-3, 6-4. Second-seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia rallied past Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Ranked No. 25 on the tour coming into the week, Johnson served an ace on the first point of the match and lost just one point in the third through fifth games of the opening set. He had it a little tougher in the second, but continued his solid season on grass, raising his record to 11-3. "I just served well in the first," he said. "He returned well in the second. I just think that makes it tricky when you don't have to play any points in the first." Johnson lost in the fourth round to Roger Federer at Wimbledon. Johnson won his first career singles title, also on grass, at Nottingham last month. American Donald Young, the No. 8 seed, joined Johnson in advancing Wednesday by defeating fellow countryman Stefan Kozlov, 6-0, 6-4. Americans Brian Baker and Dennis Novikov also were ousted. Baker lost to No. 4 seed Marcos Baghdatis of Cypriot, 6-4, 6-3. Novikov lost to Dominican Victor Estrella Burgos, 7-6 (3), 6-3. In other play, Switzerland's Marco Chiudinelli beat Australian John-Patrick Smith, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Verdasco, Bagnis advance Fernando Verdasco saved the only break point he faced Wednesday to advance to his sixth Swedish Open quarterfinal with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Albert Montanes. Verdasco next faces Facundo Bagnis, who ousted fourth-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain 7-5, 6-3. Third-seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas prevailed over Roberto Carballes Baena 7-6 (5), 6-3 to face Andrea Arnaboldi in the quarterfinals. Arnaboldi upset eighth-seeded Evgeny Donskoy of Russia 6-3, 6-2 for his third tour-level win and first quarterfinal berth. The 28-year-old Italian saved both break points he faced. Hercog beats Niculescu Polona Hercog of Slovenia took advantage of a poor performance from fifth-seeded Monica Niculescu of Romania to win their Bucharest Open second-round match 6-4, 6-3 Wednesday. Hercog plays fourth-seeded Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals after the German beat Japanese qualifier Misa Eguchi 6-4, 6-1. Vania King of the United States ousted eighth-seeded Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1 to set up a match against Pauline Parmentier. The Frenchwoman defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 7-6 (3), 6-4. — Agencies Kohlschreiber in quarters Top-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber needed three sets Wednesday to overcome Nicolas Kicker for a place in the quarterfinals of the German Open. Kohlschreiber rallied to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 and next plays Renzo Olivo, who defeated Maximo Gonzalez 6-3, 6-4 to reach his first career quarterfinal. Third-seeded Pablo Cuevas eased past Thiago Monteiro 6-2, 6-3 to reach the last eight.
