Ferrer dumps Ferrero to reach Hamburg quarter-finals

HAMBURG, May 18: Spain's David Ferrer became the first man to reach the quarter-finals of the Hamburg Masters when he eased to a 6-2 6-4 victory over compatriot and former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero today.

The 24-year-old had beaten Ferrero in their last meeting in Monte Carlo last month and the 16th seed maintained his hold over the former French Open champion in chilly conditions on the clay centre court at Am Rothenbaum.

Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros in 2005 and at number four the highest seed left in the draw, plays Finland's Jarkko Nieminen later today for a place in the last eight.

In other matches, fifth seeded American James Blake takes on Mario Ancic of Croatia and seventh seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez comes up against Spain's Fernando Verdasco.

Recognised as a warm-up event for the French Open, this year's tournament has suffered from a number of high-profile withdrawals.

On Sunday, the world's top two players, Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal and last year's Hamburg winner Roger Federer, both pulled out due to fatigue.

Argentina's David Nalbandian, Andy Roddick of the U.S. and Australia's Lleyton Hewitt had already withdrawn to leave just five of the world's top 10 at the start of the event.

REUTERS