ATLANTA (AP) Marcos Baghdatis beat fifth-seeded Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 6-1 on Thursday in the BB&T Atlanta Open to set up a quarterfinal match against fourth-seeded Matthew Ebden.
The 33-year-old Baghdatis, from Cyprus, has won two straight matches at Atlantic Station after losing seven of his previous eight.
''It's been a tough year,'' Baghdatis said. ''But what happened, happened. Now I'm here and I'm in the quarterfinals. I'm happy.''
Ebden, from Australia, beat local favorite Donald Young 6-4, 6-4.
''I knew he was going to be tough here, because he lives here,'' Ebden said. ''He practices in these conditions and he's as comfortable as anyone in these conditions, I suppose.''
Baghdatis lost the 2015 final to John Isner, the 6-foot-10 former University of Georgia star who reached the quarterfinals Wednesday night in his bid to win the event for the fifth time.
Second-seeded Nick Kyrgios of Australia, the winner over Isner in the 2016 final, advanced to face Britain's Cameron Norrie.
Kyrgios beat Noah Rubin 7-5, 6-2.
''I always feel comfortable playing here,'' Kyrgios said. ''Obviously, had a fair bit of success here. I just feel comfortable. The court suits my game style. I can serve well, I can make a couple of returns and play aggressively.''
Norrie, the left-hander who starred at Texas Christian, topped Jeremy Chardy of France 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
In the other quarterfinals Friday, Isner will face seventh-seeded Mischa Zverev of Germany, and eighth-seeded Ryan Harrison, the losing finalist last year, will meet Chung Hyeon.
