MILAN, Italy -- Richard Krajicek overcame Radek Stepanek 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (13) Wednesday to reach the Milan Indoors quarterfinals.

The 1996 Wimbledon champion last entered an indoor tournament in November 2000, having been sidelined 20 months after elbow surgery.

"The key moment was when I broke back at the start of the second set," Krajicek said. "Had he gone up 2-0, it would have been very difficult. The end of the match was very close, of course, and I feel he had more chances than me."

Krajicek, a wild-card entry, plays eighth-seeded Jarkko Nieminen in the round of eight. Nieminen got past Anthony Dupuis 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-4.

In other action, third-seeded Younes El Aynaoui was upset by Andrea Gaudenzi of Italy 7-5, 6-3, defending champion Davide Sanguinetti made short work of Giorgio Galimberti 6-2, 6-4, and Martin Verkerk served 23 aces to beat Thomas Enqvist 6-3, 6-4.

Galimberti was a last-minute replacement for sixth-seeded Fabrice Santoro, who pulled out citing fatigue from the Australian Open.