Ancic dispatches rusty Philippoussis in Scottsdale

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Third-seeded Mario Ancic cruised to the quarterfinals of the Tennis Channel Open, defeating Australian Mark Philippoussis 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) on Wednesday.

Two other seeded players weren't so fortunate as No. 6 Irakli Labadze of Georgia and No. 8 Lars Burgsmuller of Germany both lost. Only three seeds remain in the tournament. On Tuesday, top-seeded Tommy Haas withdrew because of the flu.

Giovanni Lapentti of Ecuador defeated Labadze 6-2, 6-2 and American Glenn Weiner beat Burgsmuller 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals.

Also advancing to the quarters was Australian Wayne Arthurs. Christopher Rochus of Belgium won the final first-round match played Wednesday.

"I am in a phase where I am playing well," said Ancic, who made it to the semifinals in Marseille and Rotterdam the last two weeks. "I need to play 120 percent my next match."

Philippoussis was playing for the first time this week since tearing a groin muscle in early January.

"I need to play matches," said Philippoussis, "it's as simple as that."

With five of eight seeds gone, Weiner likes his chances.

"Unfortunately, a lot of the seeds have either lost or had to pull out," said Weiner, who advanced to only his second career quarterfinal. "We all have a pretty good shot now.

"Who ever can come away with the title really helps, even finals really helps," he said. "This is great."

Arthurs defeated American Justin Gimelstob 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (6-8). Arthurs was only 6-16 in match-deciding tiebreakers coming into the tournament but has won both of his matches in Scottsdale on third-set tiebreakers.

Rochus beat American Jeff Morrison 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.