Friday, July 14 2006 15:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Newport (Rhode Island): Britain's Alex Bogdanovic, American Justin Gimelstob and Denmark's Kristian Pless advanced to the quarter-finals of the ATP Hall of Fame Championships by finishing rain-interrupted matches Thursday.

Bogdanovic, who led 2-1 when showers stopped play Wednesday, ousted Swiss George Bastl 6-1, 7-6 (8/6), to book a Friday quarter-final date against Austrian sixth seed Jurgen Melzer.

Gimelstob, the eighth seed, eliminated Australian Wayne Arthurs 6-1, 7-6 (8/6). The Aussie had led 3-2 in the second set when rain halted play.

Next up for the US veteran is Pless, who ousted Chilean Paul Capdeville 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. They had only finished the first set when rain stopped play in the 380,000-dollar grass-court event.

Top seed Andy Murray, the Scotsman who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, was leading US wild card Sam Querrey 5-3 and about to serve for the set when rain returned to wash out play for the remainder of the day.

No top seed in the event's 30-year history has ever taken the title, but Murray's route to the final looks good. If he dipatches Querrey on Friday he will book a quarter-final against another US wild card, Robert Kendrick.

Taking the court in a second-round match Friday will be US seventh seed Mardy Fish and Brazil's Thiago Alves. The winner will face Australian Mark Philippoussis in the quarter-finals Friday.