Davydenko reaches Estoril Open quarter-finals

LISBON, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Second seed Nikolay Davydenko beat former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 7-5 6-2 to advance to the quarter-finals at the Estoril Open on Wednesday

Davydenko, the 2003 winner, set up a last eight meeting with American Mardy Fish in seeking his first tournament title of the season.

"I don't want to say I am now the favourite for this tournament. I am not Nadal, and I have not won any tournaments this year," the world number 11 told.

Third seed David Ferrer was beaten 6-2 6-4 by fellow Spaniard Oscar Hernandez.

Ferrer saved two match points against his serve at 5-3 but Hernandez capitalised on the third to secure a last eight meeting with Chilean Paul Capdeville.

Fourth seed James Blake battled past local favourite Frederico Gil 5-7 6-4 6-2 to advance to the second round.

It was the American's first win on clay this year.

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Davydenko to play Ferrero in Estoril Open

LISBON, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Nikolay Davydenko and Juan Carlos Ferrero set up a Wednesday battle of former champions at the Estoril Open.

Second seed Nikolay Davydenko, the 2003 champion who lost finals in 2006 to David Nalbandian and in 2007 to Roger Federer rallied back after trailing two breaks in the second set to emerge a 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Andrey Golubev in opening round.

Ferrero, the champion eight years ago on the clay of the Estadio Nacional, booked his spot by beating Mikhail Kukushkin 7-6 (7-4),6-3.

Ferrero, a former number one, last month claimed his first title since 2003 when he won Casablanca. The 29-year-old part-time hotelier has won two of his previous three matches against Davydenko, the last contested in 2005.

Spain's third seed David Ferrer ended a six-year dry spell at the event with his 6-4, 6-1 defeat of fellow Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver.

Ferrer, ranked 14th, broke five times against the number 79Gimeno-Traver after trailing early in the match on hot spring afternoon.

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