Ferrero advances before storms halt Buenos Aires event

Buenos Aires: Juan Carlos Ferrero battled into the semi-finals of the Buenos Aires Open on Friday before torrential rain across the Argentine capital washed out the remaining quarter-finals.

The second seeded Spaniard won the first quarter-final 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 against compatriot and qualifier Santiago Ventura in the claycourt tournament at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club but no other matches could be completed. Fourth seeded Argentine Juan Monaco and his eight-seeded compatriot Horacio Zeballos were tied at 1-1 and 15-15 in the second match when rain halted play for the day. Their match will be completed on Saturday followed by the third quarter-final between top seeded Spaniard David Ferrer and Russian sixth seed Igor Andreev. There was no fourth quarter-final after Argentine David Nalbandian, making his comeback after hip surgery nine months ago, withdrew on Thursday with a muscle tear suffered during his second round win.His scheduled opponent was fifth seeded Spaniard Albert Montanes, who gained a bye into the semi-finals that are due to be held in Saturday`s night session. He will face the winner of the Ferrer v Andreev contest. Bureau Report