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Moya gives local favorite a lesson at Swedish Open

Carlos Moya returns the ball to Thomas Johansson during their match in Bastad, Sweden, on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP

Fourth seed Carlos Moya gave local hope Thomas Johansson a claycourt lesson at the Swedish Open with a 6-2, 6-3 victory in a battle of former grand slam winners on Thursday.

The Spanish fourth seed and 1998 French Open champion overpowered Johansson from the baseline and was never challenged by the Swede, who won the Australian Open in 2002.

"He has a good record against me, so it was a chance to climb back," Moya said.

"It was not his best day today ... It's not his favorite surface and the conditions were not good," said Moya, who is gunning for his 20th career title, having already won here in 2002.

Moya, briefly the world's top ranked player in 1999 and now No. 20, said he had no thoughts of retiring from tennis yet despite turning 31 later this year.

"I feel there is still room to improve and I am still enjoying it a lot. I am still healthy and motivated, and my ranking now is the best in three years," he said.

In the quarter-finals, Moya takes on sixth seed Robin Soderling, the last Swede left in the draw after a marathon 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 win over Fernando Verdasco.

Moya was joined in the last eight by compatriot David Ferrer, the second seed, who overcame a stiff challenge from Chilean Nicolas Massu to win 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Three of the quarter-final places are taken up by Spanish players after Nicolas Almagro booked his place on Wednesday.

Ferrer wasted four match points with Massu serving at 5-2 in the third set before finally winning.

Ferrer, the highest seed left after defending champion Tommy Robredo lost in the opening round, takes on Gilles Simon after the Frenchman ousted Argentine seventh seed Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-4.
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