Denis Istomin is through to the Memphis quarterfinals after making short work of Lleyton Hewitt on Thursday. Alexandr Dolgopolov and Jack Sock join Istomin in the last eight.
Denis Istomin wasted no time reaching four ATP quarterfinals this season, not in in terms of weeks and not in terms of match length on Thursday. The 63rd-ranked Uzbek, once again into the last eight of an event in the second month of 2013, thrashed Lleyton Hewitt 6-1, 6-2 in a a mere 58 minutes in the second round of the U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships. Istomin fired seven aces and saved all four of the break points he faced while earning four scalps of the Hewitt serve.
Hewitt, who had survived Yen-Hsun Lu in a marathon three-setter on Wednesday, never had a chance in this one. The 31-year-old Aussie lost the first five games of the match before finally getting on the scoreboard with a rare hold. Hewitt dropped serve early in the second to all but end any chances of a comeback. After another hold by the world No. 107 at 1-5, Istomin battled through a tough service game to clinch victory. Next up for Istomin is an all-unseeded affair with lucky loser Michael Russell, who eased past Lukasz Kubot 6-2, 6-4.
Williams, who was riding an eight-match winning streak, led 4-1 with a break in the first set but he promptly lost five games in a row. The American qualifier got back on track by breaking Dolgopolov at 5-4 in the second, but he could not maintain his momentum throughout the decider. Dologpolov served out the proceedings at 5-4 to await either Sam Querrey or Marinko Matosevic in the quarterfinals.
Jack Sock reached his second career ATP quarterfinal after defeating James Blake 7-5, 6-4 in the nightcap. Sock saved nine of 10 break points and survived eight double-faults off his own racket to advance in one hour and 48 minutes.
A wild first set last an hour and three minutes by itself. Sock fought off five set points while serving at 4-5 and he needed six of his set points at 6-5 to finally seal the deal.
Blake could not quite battle back from a break down in the opener, but he did just that right away it set two. After snagging his third break of the day, however, Sock maintained his lead. The up-and-coming American closed out the proceedings with a solid hold at 5-4, clinching his second match points with a powerful forehand winner.
Sock, who previously reached a quarterfinal last summer in Atlanta, will face Feliciano Lopez on Friday. Lopez got a free pass into the last eight when Tommy Haas withdrew due to illness.
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