Eighth-seeded Sam Querrey advanced to the semifinals in the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, beating Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 7-6 (6) 7-6 (4).

The American saved two set points in the opening set and one in the second.

“My first two matches were pretty clean, but this match was more about fighting your way through it,” Querrey said. “There were some frustrating moments against a tough opponent, but I found a way to win those tie-breaks and that’s what tennis is about sometimes.”

Querrey will face Christian Garin of Chile, who was a 6-3 6-2 winner over Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen.

Norway’s Casper Ruud also advanced, spoiling Spaniard Marcel Granollers’ 33rd birthday with a 6-1 6-0 victory.

Rudd will face the winner of the late match between seventh-seeded Jordan Thompson of Australia and Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi.