Murray, Davydenko, Verdasco land in Valencia QFs
Valencia, Spain (Sports Network) - Top-seeded British star Andy Murray, second-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko and Spanish crowd favorite Fernando Verdasco were among Thursday's second-round winners at the $2.98 million Valencia Open.
The world No. 4 Murray held off Argentine Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Day 4 here. The Scotsman prevailed in 2 hours, 22 minutes, with the help of eight aces and three service breaks.
Murray's quarterfinal opponent on Friday will be Spain's own Albert Montanes.
Davdyenko, meanwhile, handled Argentine Juan Monaco 6-3, 7-5, while a fourth- seeded Verdasco vaulted past Serbian Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 6-3 at this indoor hardcourt event. Verdasco titled here back in 2004.
David Ferrer will not repeat as the champion here this year, as the eighth- seeded Spaniard pulled out of his scheduled second-rounder on Day 4, citing a hamstring injury, thus giving his countryman Montanes a walkover into the round of eight. The speedy Ferrer defeated Nicolas Almagro in last year's popular all-Spanish finale, as Almagro was the two-time reigning champion at the time.
Seventh-seeded Tommy Robredo came from behind to beat fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and Russian Mikhail Youzhny got past Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.
Friday's other quarters will pit Davydenko against Spaniard Guillermo Garcia- Lopez, Verdasco versus his compatriot Robredo and fifth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon against Youzhny.
The 2009 Valencia winner will take home $475,000.
11/05 16:51:46 ET
