TENNIS NEWS
Portugal Open: David Ferrer toughs it out to reach
last eight
Top seed David Ferrer had to dig deep to reach the quarter-finals at the ATP Portugal Open on Wednesday finally overcoming Frenchman Eduardo Roger-Vasselin 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, who was beaten in his opening match at last week's Barcelona Open, will play Romanian journeyman Victor Hanescu, who accounted for sixth-seeded Frenchman Benoit Paire 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.
Ferrer, who missed the Monte Carlo Masters after injuring a thigh in the final of the Miami tournament in March, is looking to get some valuable court time prior to the French Open later this month.
The Spaniard had looked to be crusing to victory when he led by a set and 4-2 in the second but then lost his concentration.
"I lost that game and the set, In the third it was tough to break him," he said.
"It was a very good match to get through but I certainly have to lift my level for the next round. Hanescu is a good player even if I've beaten him before (he has beaten hom on both occasions they have played). I have to play well."
Ferrer, who has not played here since 2009, took nearly two hours to subdue his feisty French opponent, serving four double-faults and being broken three times.
He was brought in as a late replacement for Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, the holder who could not play at their edition due to a stomach virus.
Despite his recent setbacks, world number four Ferrer stands a formidable 26-6 since the start of the year having won the titles in Auckland (hard) and Buenos Aires (clay) before finishing runner-up to Nadal in Acapulco on clay in February and then losing to Andy Murray in Miami.
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