Hyung-Taik Lee and Vincent Spadea both booked places in the quarter-finals of the XL Capital Bermuda Open yesterday with workman-like, straight-sets victories on Centre Court.

Lee, rated No. 1 in his native Korea and No. 99 worldwide at the end of 2001, disposed of American Cecil Mamiit by a 6-4, 6-3 margin but then Spadea kept the Star-Spangled Banner's hopes alive with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Peter Luczak.

Signalling his no-nonsense intentions immediately, Lee had Mamiit playing catch-up from early as he broke his opponent in the very first game.

However, he faltered in game four, allowing Mamiit to break back and then break him again in game six for a 4-2 lead.

Suddenly, Lee's serve and strokes rose to the challenge as he reeled off the next four games - including breaks in games seven and nine as Mamiit let the initiative slip from his grasp.

A contentious point that secured the first set for Lee seemed to ruffle Mamiit. The 25-year-old argued at length that he heard an "out" call as he was going to play the ball and stopped.

However, the point was ruled "in" and in Lee's favour.

The Korean's march to "game, set, match" continued apace in the second set with Mamiit losing his service game twice, most critically in game nine when Lee was a game away from winning.

A weak forehand into the net by the loser sealed the deal for Lee. Speaking through an interpreter, 26-year-old Lee said he felt good playing on Coral Beach Club's clay courts.

The tournament is his first on clay in a while and he was concerned about how he would perform.

Despite two wins under his belt here, he refused to be overly optimistic about his chances.

"He's not thinking about how far he can go. He's taking one match at a time," said his coach Heejune Choi, acting as translator. Ironically, Lee and Mamiit teamed up later in a losing doubles effort against Ramon Delgado and Alexandre Simoni. They fell 6-2, 7-5. Spadea, fresh from dismissing top seed Jan Vacek, continued his impressive form against Australian Luczak who is in his first year as a professional.

The 27-year-old quickly got the measure of his opponent and used his experience and net game to create advantageous positions. Frequently, he rushed forward to put away volleys out of his hapless rival's reach.

That Luczak was unable to capitalise on potential break points made Spadea's job easier.

In game seven of the first set, Luczak squandered three break chances to let Spadea hold serve and then break him at love in the following game - with a thundering backhand winner down the line - to take the set.

Spadea continued advancing to ruthlessly punish any half-chances at net in the second set.

Enjoying a 4-2 lead, he eased up on the assault somewhat and Luczak, realising the match was running away from him, finally grabbed a break point.

That, however, was his last hurrah.

Spadea answered back with a break of his own - one that Luczak rued as he exited the court as he had been up 40-love - and swept to victory in the next game, fittingly at love also.

"I knew this would be a tough match. Vince is a top player who is very experienced but I had some chances. There were a couple games that I was 40-love up but I just couldn't convert.

"Also, in the second set, I was 3-4 down but serving at 40-love and I lost that game. That cost me the match. I wasn't hitting my short forehand like I normally do.

"It's usually my best shot but I was missing a lot today. I don't know if it came down to nerves or maybe not enough preparation," said Luczak.

However, the vanquished player chose to highlight the bright side of his Bermuda experience.

"This is the biggest tournament in which I have played in the main draw. This is something new and exciting for me. I love it. They treat the players unbelievably well and I've really enjoyed myself," said the 22-year-old who turned pro last June after college.

Spadea agreed that certain games proved pivotal to the match's outcome, pointing out that the encounter would have been closer had he lost them.

"I played those key points well and also I served well throughout the match and closed out the games I needed to win."

Given the heat, he said it was crucial "to play smart" and not become dehydrated.

He will practise and rest today ahead of his quarter-final tomorrow. Having been a semifinalist in the 1995 Open, he is hoping to go all the way this time and emerge victorious.

Earlier in doubles, Australians Nathan Healey and Stephen Huss prevailed in straight sets over Argentine Edgardo Massa and Brazil's Flavio Saretta.

Having won the first set 6-4, the twosome from Down Under were made to work harder in a gripping second set that climaxed in an enthralling tie-breaker 7-6 (11-9).

This emotion-charged match saw the entertaining Saretta slamming his racquet to the ground on numerous occasions and exclaiming wildly with foreign profanity.

"We are happy to have won. This is our first time playing together and we look forward to our next match," said Huss as he and Healey left the court.