Koubek topples Gaudio, Henman struggles

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) -- Austria's Stefan Koubek toppled French Open champion Gaston Gaudio of Argentina 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the euro989,750 (US$1.25 million) Swiss Indoors.

Later, second-seeded Tim Henman struggled to overcome South African Wesley Moodie, converting only one of 12 break points to win 7-6 (2), 6-7 (0), 6-4 and reach the quarterfinals for the eighth consecutive time in Basel.

"It was closer than I would have liked it to be," said Henman, who has been taking supplements for a magnesium deficiency that fatigued him in Madrid last week. "It was a long match and it's a good sign that I'm feeling in pretty good shape. The telltale sign will be how I feel tomorrow morning."

Fifth-seeded Tommy Robredo withdrew from the tournament with a right shoulder injury, sending Czech Jiri Novak straight into the quarterfinals.

It was a second straight upset for Koubek, listed 64 spots below the ninth-ranked and third-seeded Gaudio. The Austrian began the tournament with an impressive win over the 25th-ranked Paradorn Srichaphan. It also marks the first time he's reached the quarterfinals of an international series tournament since September 2003.

Henman, who crashed out in the third round of last week's Madrid Masters because of his mineral deficiency, is still looking to secure his berth in the Tennis Masters Cup in Houston on Nov. 15.

The Briton was aced 24 times by Moodie, and squandered four break points in the opening set, yet managed to tame the South African in the tiebreak. Undeterred, Moodie continued to trouble Henman in the second. A combination of unforced errors by the Englishman and solid play by Moodie in the second tiebreak left the pair at a set apiece.

Henman finally prevailed, converting the third of three match points for the first break of the contest.

"It's tough when you've got a guy serving that big and that consistently," Henman said. "You know you have to hold your own serve because a lapse in concentration, a couple of lost shots can cost you the victory.

"I thought I was the better player but it's easy for the doubts to creep in when you get aced 24 times and he has a 70 percent first serve. You wonder if you are going to be able to pull it off."

In the quarterfinals, Henman will meet Novak, who ousted him in the opening round at the Olympics the last time they met.

"I like to think I can't play any worse then I did then," Henman said. "He's a world-class player. He's been in the top-10. He's beaten most guys. It comes down to who plays better on the day."

Czech Bohdan Ulihrach won his first match of the tournament to reach the quarterfinals, defeating Swiss Ivo Heuberger 6-1, 6-4.

The lucky loser in qualifying, Ulihrach was first hoping to make the main draw when Luis Horna of Peru appeared to be injured.

But in the end it was Roger Federer he replaced when this season's winner of three Grand Slam titles withdrew with torn muscle fibers in his left thigh only hours before his first-round match against Horna.

Further easing the way for Ulihrach, Horna then pulled out midway through the match with lower back pain.

"It's been a good week for me," Ulihrach said with a smile. "It was lucky to get in as lucky loser. It was bad for Roger and catastrophic for the tournament but I am happy to play."

Later in the day, David Nalbandian was scheduled to meet Vincent Spadea.

Henman and Nalbandian -- along with Carlos Moya, Guillermo Coria, Marat Safin and Andre Agassi -- are still vying the four berths still up for grabs in the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Houston.

Four of the eight spots already have been secured by Federer, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and Gaudio.