Jose Acasuso warned that his best was yet to come after he came out on top in a hard-fought match against James Blake last night.

In what was a clash of styles, Argentine baseliner Acasuso finally saw off the more aggressive American, 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-3, in front of the biggest crowd of the week so far at Coral Beach.

But asked if he was happy with his performance, 18-year-old Acasuso, the youngest player left in the tournament, said he expected better of himself.

"No, I was not happy with the way I played tonight,'' said the youngster through an interpreter. "It was difficult because I have just come from playing in Mexico at high altitude and there is a big difference in the conditions. I can play better.

"I was not serving very well and Blake returned very well. When Blake attacked the net, he made a lot of pressure for me and forced me into making mistakes.'' Acasuso, who knocked out top seed Olivier Rochus in the first round on Monday night, will play under floodlights again tonight (7.00 p.m.) in his quarter-final clash with another American, Cecil Mamiit.

In a tight first set, both players took time to find their rhythm. Acasuso broke Blake's serve in the fourth game, but Blake broke back in the seventh.

In the tiebreak, Blake seized a 3-1 lead, but Acasuso hit back to win the next five points and he finally took it 7-4.

Blake's determination to attack the net whenever possible and Acasuso's ability to hit rapier passing shots made for some spectacular tennis.

Acasuso also showed finesse, but the delightfully disguised drop shots which worked to such good effect against Rochus proved less fruitful against the fleet-footed Blake, the former number one US collegiate player.

Blake's persistent aggression forced Acasuso into errors and the American stormed the second set 6-1. A tense third set produced five breaks of serve in eight games and Acasuso finally held his nerve and his serve in the ninth game to clinch it 6-3.

Blake, who had destroyed Thai number one Paradorn Srichapan 6-1, 6-0 in the first round, was philosophical in defeat.

"In a match that close, it's always going to come down to a little bit of luck and a bit of who plays the big points better and I felt it was a combination of both, as it usually is,'' he said.

"A couple of times I made mistakes I felt I shouldn't have made on big points, but he forced me into it, he played well.''