Defending champion Almagro into last eight

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:18

The top-seed had his serve broken twice but converted on four-of-eight break-point chances to dispatch the Argentinean.

World number 18 Almagro will face Frederico Gil of Portugal, who upset fifth-seed Marcel Granollers of Spain 7-5 3-6 6-3 in the last eight

Tommy Robredo of Spain made easy work of Italian Fabio Fognini in a 6-2 6-2 victory.

The second-seed will next face countryman Alberto Martin, who saved all nine break chances he faced in knocking off seventh-seed Nicolas Devilder 6-2 7-6 (7/4).

Unseeded Juan Carlos Ferrero also did not face much a challenge in the form of Brian Dabul of Poland after easing his way into the last eight with a 6-1 6-2 victory in 72 minutes.

The Spaniard took advantage of four-of-eight break opportunities while holding on Dabul’s only break chance of the match to set up a meeting with Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, who upended qualifier Lukasz Kubot in three sets.

Bellucci broke on four-of-five opportunities and blasted 18 aces compared to just two double faults en route to a 5-7 6-4 6-4 victory that took just under two and a half hours.

It took over three hours for Argentine Eduardo Schwank to advance to the quarter-finals with a 2-6 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (8/6) triumph over qualifier Rui Machado.

Schwank had his serve broken on seven different occasions but won both tie-breakers in the three hour seven minute marathon to move into the quarter-finals where he will face countryman Jose Acasuso. Fourth-seed Acasuso cruised past Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 6-3 6-2 in just over 77 minutes.

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