Ferrer crashes out in Nice claycourt event

Nice: Spanish top seed David Ferrer was knocked out of the Nice ATP claycourt event, going down 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 to Ukraine`s Alexandr Dolgopolov in the quarter-finals.

The 22-year-old Ukrainian had been beaten by Ferrer three times previously, including in the Acapulco semi-finals earlier this year, but he gained revenge with victory in one hour and 52 minutes.Dolgopolov will face Victor Hanescu in the semi-finals after the Romanian went through courtesy of Dutch lucky loser Robin Haase pulling out with an ankle injury with the score at 6-2, 2-0.World number 12 Nicolas Almagro cruised past fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6-1, 6-4 and faces Czech second seed Tomas Berdych who dismissed Latvian wild card Ernests Gulbis 6-1, 6-4. Bureau Report