Moya beats Ferrer to reach Croatia Open semi-finals

UMAG, Croatia, July 27 (Reuters) Carlos Moya battled to a 7-5 6-4 quarter-final win over compatriot and fourth seed David Ferrer today to stay on course for his fifth Croatia Open title.

It was the Spanish former world number one's eighth career victory over Ferrer, who had won their two previous meetings.

Moya, seeded sixth, will meet fifth seed Guillermo Canas in the semi-finals after the Argentine crushed uninspired Simon Gilles of France 6-2 6-1.

Romania's 33-year-old Andrei Pavel joined Moya in the semi-finals by beating Italian Filippo Volandri 1-6 6-2 6-3, continuing his impressive run in Umag this year after ousting local favourite and third seed Ivan Ljubicic in the first round.

Seventh seed Volandri's quarter-final defeat was his fifth consecutive loss at the last-eight stage in Umag.

Qualifier Viktor Troicki of Serbia, the surprise of the tournament, beat Argentine Carlos Berlocq 7-5 6-2 to set up a last four meeting with Pavel. The 21-year-old Serb had ended top seed, compatriot and world number three Novak Djokovic's tournament in the second round.

Reuters BJR VP0320