Lopez, Sock and Baghdatis through to Houston quarters

Spanish third seed Lopez, defending champion Sock and seventh seed Baghdatis were victorious in straight sets against Lukas Lacko, Matthew Barton and Fernando Verdasco respectively.

Marcos Baghdatis saw off 2014 champion Verdasco 6-4, 6-3 at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship on Thursday.

It was a good day to be a seed at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship on Thursday as Feliciano Lopez, Jack Sock and Marcos Baghdatis advanced to the quarterfinals.

Spanish third seed Lopez, defending champion Sock and seventh seed Baghdatis were victorious in straight sets against Lukas Lacko, Matthew Barton and Fernando Verdasco respectively.

Lopez was too good for Lacko, posting a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 win in Houston. The 34-year-old only had a first serve percentage of 45 per cent in the second set, but when the ball was in he made it count, winning eight of nine points on first serve.

Lacko fended off five of eight break points but it was not enough. Next up for Lopez is American wildcard Tim Smyczek, who defeated Donald Young 6-2, 6-4.

American fourth seed Sock smashed his way past qualifier Barton 6-2, 7-6, (7-5). Sock won 81 per cent of points on first serve on the way to the win, and saved two out of three break points he faced. His exploits earned him a last-eight showdown with Baghdatis, who saw off 2014 champion Verdasco 6-4, 6-3.

It took until the 10th game of the first set for Baghdatis to break Verdasco and it was well timed to win the Cypriot the set. And the second set was similar as Baghdatis broke in the fourth game for a 3-1 lead, an advantage he never relinquished.