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." In the women's draw, two-time grand slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova reached her first quarter-final since the Australian Open when she beat Kazakh Galina Voskoboeva 6-4, 6-4. Kuznetsova, ranked 45 in the world and a wild card entry, said that while she was happy to win, she was not particularly impressed with how she got through over her rival, who is ranked 117th.
The Spanish-trained Russian who now lives in her homeland but says she still needs Spanish-atyle coaching, will play Romina Oprandi, who beat China's Peng Shuai 6-1, 6-3, in the quarter-finals. Kuznetsova has won all three meetings with the Swiss, but they last played seven years ago.
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