Berdych earns 500th career win to make Dubai quarters

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Tomas Berdych became the eighth active ATP player to post 500 career wins when he beat Simone Bolelli of Italy 7-6 (7), 5-7, 6-0 at the Dubai Championships on Wednesday.

''It feels great,'' Berdych said. ''I need to make sure I keep my body fresh so I can make another 500.''

Third-seeded Andy Murray also moved into the quarterfinals off of a swift 6-0, 6-2 win over Joao Sousa of Portugal.

Berdych faced a set point in the first-set tiebreaker before Bolelli sailed a backhand return long on a second set point to give the Czech the lead.

Bolelli, who had five break points in all in the second set, finally converted one in the 12th game with a forehand crosscourt winner.

''It was a tough day at the office,'' Berdych said of the 2-hour, 24-minute match. ''I kind of expected that it was going to be an easy match. But then after the first two sets I started to take my chances.

''The matches where you have to fight a bit are more generous for the experience.''

Murray has won all 12 sets in the five matches he's played against Sousa.

''He was getting more frustrated because he couldn't get any free points, and then was going for more and more shots and obviously making more errors because of it,'' Murray said.

The only game the 50th-ranked Sousa won was when holding serve in the third game of the second set.

Lucky loser Borna Coric ended up with a win when, at 6-4, 3-6, 6-6 and 4-4 in the third-set tiebreaker, Marcos Bagdhatis retired because of cramping.

Also, seventh-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain was upset by Richard Gasquet of France 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6).