Memphis, TN -- Benjamin Becker rallied to beat countryman and two-time defending champion Tommy Haas 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, in the second round Wednesday at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships.

Becker ended Haas' 11-match winning streak in Memphis and advanced to his second ATP quarterfinal of the season (Adelaide).

"It's a big win for me against Tommy and I look forward to playing in the quarterfinals on Friday," said Becker, who played his Davis Cup teammate for the first time. "I played more aggressive in the second set and it was a good fight out there."

In the third set, Becker went up 3-1 before losing serve in the sixth game. Haas saved one match point in the 10th game before holding and then had two break points on Becker's serve before he held. In the decisive game, Haas fell behind love-40 before getting back to deuce. Becker then won the next two points to clinch the victory.

"I feel like I am serving better and my shoulder is getting stronger," said Haas, who played in his third tournament of the season since coming back from a shoulder injury. "I felt like I made progress this week. It came down to a few points here and there which was the difference."

Top seed Andy Roddick, playing in Memphis for the eighth straight year, outslugged qualifier Gilles Muller 6-4, 7-6(4) in a big-serving first round match. Roddick was outaced 18 to 17 but never faced a break point in the one hour and 16 minute match. He broke Muller in the fifth game of the opening set for the only break in the match. Roddick also trailed 0-2 in the tie-break before winning seven of the last nine points.

"He was serving up a storm," said Roddick of Muller, who had an 83% first serve mark. "I was lucky to get through this one and I got a chance in the tie-break and took it."

Roddick will play close friend and countryman Mardy Fish in the second round Thursday night. Last week in San Jose Roddick prevailed in three sets.

No. 4 seed Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic became the first player to reach the quarterfnals as he outlasted Frenchman Florent Serra 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-5 in two hours and 35 minutes.

Stepanek hit 13 aces and overcame 10 double faults to advance to his second straight ATP quarterfinal (or better) and third of the season. He was a semifinalist in Sydney last month and runner-up in San Jose last week.

After splitting the first two sets, Stepanek was broken in the opening game of the third set when he double-faulted. Serra held until losing serve in the eighth game and the Frenchman was broken in the 12th game, giving Stepanek his 10th match win (10-4) of the season. Stepanek won one more point (118 to 117) in the match.

Unseeded Steve Darcis reached his first ATP quarterfinal of the year with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over No. 7 seed Jurgen Melzer of Austria. The 23-year-old Belgian converted two of three break points while losing his serve once in the one hour and 17 minute match

No. 8 seed and 2006 finalist Robin Soderling won his opening round match in 47 minutes over Canadian qualifier Frederic Niemeyer 6-2, 6-1.

Soderling, who reached his sixth career ATP final in Rotterdam on Sunday (l. to Llodra), fired 16 aces and saved both break points he faced. He converted four of nine break points and improved his season record to 7-2 since coming back from a left wrist injury he suffered last August.

The 23-year-old Swede broke in the fourth and eighth games of the opening set. In the seventh game, he won all four of his service points with aces. In the second set, he broke to go up 2-0 and then broke again in the sixth game to secure the victory.

"It's a bit tough (coming from Rotterdam) and I played a lot of matches the last two weeks," said Soderling, who takes on Victor Hanescu in the second round. "The conditions are different. I think I did pretty well. The first four, five games were pretty tough but I am glad it was a quick match today.

Tuesday: Stepanek, Querrey, Johansson Reach 2nd Rd.

Monday: Haas, Melzer Advance on Opening Day