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NEWPORT, R.I. – Top-seeded Steve Johnson advanced to the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships quarterfinals Wednesday, beating Japan's Yuichi Sugita, 6-1, 6-4.
Coming off a career-best finish in a Grand Slam, the 26-year-old Johnson needed just 20 minutes to win the first set and 59 to close the match. It was his first on Newport's grass this week after the top four seeds were given byes.
Defending champion Rajeev Ram, a two-time winner in Newport — also in 2009 when he won his only other career ATP tourney — lost to seventh-seeded Dudi Sela of Israel, 6-3, 6-4.
Second-seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia rallied past Canadian qualifier Frank Dancevic, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
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