ROME — James Blake wasted three match points and was beaten by Jiri Novak 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 Friday in the quarterfinals of the Italian Open.
Blake won the first set in 25 minutes, but the 14th-seeded Novak, who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open earlier this year, seized control in the second set tiebreaker.
Novak hit two winners and Blake missed a shot after a long rally on the three match points. Blake missed another shot on Novak's first set point.
In the third set, Novak broke at love in the third game and held on for the victory.
Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi were also scheduled to play Friday.
Agassi, the seven-time Grand Slam champion, was to play Albert Costa, and the 19-year-old Roddick was to face Tommy Robredo.
In the other quarterfinal, seventh-seeded Tommy Haas plays Carlos Moya, the 1998 French Open champion.
Agassi is a step closer to winning the Italian Open, a tournament he has never won.
"I'm too experienced now to get excited," he said.
The seven-time Grand Slam champion advanced to the quarterfinals, beating Argentina's Agustin Calleri 7-6 (4), 7-5 Thursday.
The 13th-seeded Roddick beat South Africa's Wayne Ferreira 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals.
Haas defeated No. 10 Sebastien Grosjean 6-3, 6-4 for his first victory in five tries against the Frenchman. Moya downed Sweden's Thomas Enqvist 6-2, 6-1.
The Americans have done well in the tournament where the top six seeded players were out by the end of the second round.
"We're not known for playing good on clay," Blake said after reaching the quarterfinals. "I guess we're learning and we're having some fun over here."
Blake thinks the performance bodes well for September when he and Roddick will play for the United States in the Davis Cup semifinals against France.
"We're trying to show the French we can play on this stuff," he said. "We want to put some pressure on them."
GERMAN OPEN: In Berlin, Jennifer Capriati moved within two victories of regaining the No. 1 ranking, beating Sandrine Testud 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 Friday to advance to the semifinals of the German Open.
Testud survived three match points before driving a forehand into the net to end the match.
Serena Williams advanced to the semifinals without playing a point when defending champion Amelie Mauresmo withdrew with a neck injury.
"I'd rather have played," Williams said. "But I'll just go back to my hotel — I've already done all the touristy things."