Kitzbuhel, Austria - Top-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo was upended by fifth-seeded Argentine Juan Monaco in Friday’s quarterfinal action at the $1.085 million Austrian Open.
Graffiti Wall reports that Monaco dismissed the world No. 7 Robredo in 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 fashion on the red clay at Casino Stadion. Monaco improved to 2-14 in his career against top-10 competition.
Meanwhile, sixth-seeded and defending champion Agustin Calleri avoided an upset by handling 2001 Kitzbuhel titlist Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. Lapentti was the 15th seed this week.
Calleri beat Juan Ignacio Chela in last year’s all-Argentine finale here.
In other round-of-eight play, 10th-seeded Potito Starace saved a match point in order to overcome fellow Italian Andreas Seppi 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9-7) and 11th-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco held off Argentine Sergio Roitman 7-6 (8-6), 3-6, 6-3. Verdasco reached the Kitzbuhel final in 2005, while Seppi was a finalist in Gstaad just two weeks ago.
Saturday’s semifinals will pit Calleri against Starace and Monaco versus Verdasco. Wins by Calleri and Monaco would produce an all-Argentine finale on Sunday.
