Melzer, Ljubicic reach quarters at Croatia Open

Umag, Croatia :

Second-seeded Jurgen Melzer needed only 45 minutes to sweep past Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-0 and advance to the quarterfinals of the Croatia Open.

Melzer, who had a bye in the first round, will play his quarterfinal later Friday as a result of his second-round match being postponed from Thursday due to torrential rain.

The Austrian will meet Andreas Seppi of Italy, who defeated Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-4, 6-2.

Both Melzer and Seppi were semifinalists here last year.

Third-seeded Ivan Ljubicic beat Croatian compatriot Ivan Dodig 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach his second consecutive quarterfinal in Umag.

Ljubicic's next opponent will be Potito Starace of Italy who won beat Bjorn Phau of Germany 6-4, 6-0.