Andy Roddick makes a fist as he reacts to winning a point against Wayne Ferreira. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        MASON — Either Andre Agassi or Lleyton Hewitt will emerge from a titanic quarterfinal tonight as the favorite to win the Western & Southern Financial Masters. But there are intriguing challengers lurking in the draw.

        Play went according to form Thursday, putting five seeded players in the quarters. The best challenge to the Agassi-Hewitt winner would seem to be 12th seed Andy Roddick.

        Roddick, who leads the tour this year with 47 victories, is living a charmed life. He beat Wayne Ferreira so quickly Thursday night — 6-3, 6-2 in 55 minutes — that he was able to hurry to Riverbend to catch his favorite act, the Dave Matthews Band.

        “I went in with the mind-set that I wasn't going, but I played well enough (to make it),” he said.

        Matthews had come to see Roddick play tennis a day earlier. Roddick will meet Fernando Gonzalez tonight after the Agassi-Hewitt match, which begins at 7 p.m.

        Roddick beat Gonzalez 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7) in their only previous meeting, earlier this year on clay.

        No. 16 seed Carlos Moya will face Rainer Schuettler at 1p.m., followed by No. 8 Juan Carlos Ferrero against qualifier Wayne Arthurs.

        Schuettler, a 26-year-old German, leads his series with Moya 4-1. Moya, a former No.1 player who struggled for years with a back injury, is returning to form. The 25-year-old Spaniard beat American Michael Chang 6-4, 6-3 Thursday.

   • ATP Masters Results & Schedule

Sports Stories

Masters in demand, ATP chief says Where are you going? Roddick: Final 8 Hardcourt's best players ready for faceoff 'Mosquito' Ferrero stings Dent in 3 sets Moya making most of comeback Schuettler makes fans sit up, pay attention Tennis Channel to test fans' interest Delay aside, Switzer happy to enter Hall Klecko following in father's footsteps Miami hungers for 2nd No. 1 New Mexico State football player in critical condition Two-year Purdue starting RB has no lock on spot Lineup, new format announced for Coaches vs. Cancer Classic New contract will keep Jurich at U of L through 2016 Back on track, in car and in life Gordon eyes road course as chance for first win Prince Andrew to visit U.S. Grand Prix in Indy Hand surgeon fined, suspended for giving horse Prozac Third horse dies in Kentucky from West Nile Tiger 2 strokes back at Buick Harding sentenced to 10 days in jail Last chance for UC-OSU tickets

Kitna relaxed, confident for first start
Bengals, Simmons near common ground
Justin Smith working to improve upon impressive rookie season
Bills' backup tight end battling for roster spot
Bills' revamped O-line faces first test
Browns ban sales of plastic bottles of beer
Jets 16, Steelers 6
Titans beginning to make tough decisions
It's a hazing day of summer for rookie
NFL preseason gets into full swing
Rockies 10, Reds 3
'Defining moment' ahead for Reds
Reds-Padres series preview
Reds box, runs
Reds notebook
Casey homers for Louisville
Seattle beats Reds to Offerman
Head spinning, Rockies' Hurdle eager for challenges
Owners have no sticks left, just carrots
Players, owners agree to minimum salary, benefits plan
Padres 7, Phillies 4
NL roundup
AL roundup
Notes from Thursday's games
Xavier completes women's basketball staff
Poll puts St. Xavier on top again