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.
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