Thursday, July 13 2006 15:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Newport (Rhode Island): Top seeded Scot Andy Murray will get some extra rest at the ATP Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.

Murray did not begin his second-round match against American Sam Querrey before play was called because of rain Wednesday at the 380,000 dollar grasscourt event at Newport Casino.

No top seed ever has won the event in its 30-year history, and the 19-year-old Murray nearly became the latest victim of the 'Curse of the Casino' on Tuesday, when he had to save five match points in a 6-1, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5) triumph over Brazilian Ricardo Mello.



The victor of the Murray-Querrey match will face American wild card Robert Kendrick in the quarterfinals.

Kendrick, who blew a two-sets lead against Rafael Nadal in the second round at Wimbledon, followed up his upset of fifth seed Vincent Spadea with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Russian Igor Kunitsyn on Wednesday.

Kendrick's was just one of three matches completed Wednesday because of the rain. In other results, No. 6 Jurgen Melzer of Austria outlasted Canadian Frank Dancevic, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, and Australian Mark Philippoussis posted a 6-3, 6-4 win over South African Rik De Voest.

Philippoussis, whose match was interrupted for more than an hour after he jumped out to a 4-2 lead, will face either seventh-seeded American Mardy Fish or Brazilian Thiago Alves in the round of eight.

Melzer next will play either Brit Alex Bogdanovic or George Bastl or Switzerland, who upset No. 2 Ivo Karlovic on Tuesday. Bogdanovic held a 2-1 lead before play was called for the day.

In other matches that got underway, eighth-seeded American Justin Gimelstob holds a 6-3, 2-3 lead over Australian Wayne Arthurs and Kristian Pless of Denmark possesses a 5-4 edge over Chilean Paul Capdeville.