Massu defeats Mauro

Casablanca: Top-seeded Nicolas Massu of Chile narrowly escaped Alessio di Mauro of Italy 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarterfinals of the Grand Prix Hassan II on Wednesday. Di Mauro led by a set and 3-1, then Massu reeled off 10 straight games to lead 5-0 in the final set, before winning in 2 hours, 24 minutes. Massu moved on to play Nicolas Mahut, who upset fifth-seeded Arnaud Clement 6-3, 7-6 (6) in an all-French second-round match. Before this week, Mahut hadn't won a match on the ATP tour, as he played mainly at challenger level. Jiri Vanek of the Czech Republic ousted sixth-seeded Jurgen Melzer of Austria 7-6 (5), 6-2, and Bjorn Phau of Germany beat Algerian qualifier Slimane Saoudi 6-4, 6-4 to reach his third quarterfinals of the year. Vanek and Phau will play each other in the quarterfinals. In a first-round match, Germany's Alexander Waske beat Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 6-4, 7-5. (AP)