Ferrer keeps Tour finals hopes alive in Valencia

Valencia: David Ferrer kept alive his hopes of clinching a spot at this month’s ATP World Tour finals when he beat Russian qualifier Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-4 6-1 to reach the Valencia Open quarter-finals on Thursday.

Spaniard Ferrer still has a good chance of securing one of three remaining berths for the season-ending event in London, for which Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Robin Soderling have all qualified. Fourth seed Ferrer, the 2008 champion, did not face a single break point on his serve against Gabashvili, ranked 99, and will play Italian Potito Starace on Friday for a semi-final place. “I served well throughout the match and played a very organised game, without making many mistakes,” said Ferrer. Second seed Soderling booked his place in the last eight when he swept aside Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-2 6-3. The Swede was joined by Russian sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko, who survived a tough first set to come through 7-6 6-2 against Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina and set up a quarter-final clash with Frenchman Gilles Simon. Davydenko, whose injury-plagued season has left him with no chance of qualifying for the London finals, noted that every match won was helping his bid to return to top form. “If I lose I am constantly thinking I have done badly and that is why it’s so important to do well here and get my confidence back,” he said. Soderling will play Simon’s eight-seeded compatriot Gael Monfils who beat Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-2 6-4. The other quarter-final is between Argentine Juan Monaco, who beat Britain’s top seed and title holder Andy Murray on Wednesday, and Marcel Granollers of Spain. Bureau Report