Defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlo Moya were on course for a repeat of last year's final after reaching the last eight in the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday.
Top-seeded Ferrero wore out Argentine Gaston Gaudio, seeded 13th, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.
PHOTO: AFP
Moya, the number two seed, was even more impressive in his 6-2, 6-4 demolition of compatriot Tommy Robredo, the 16th seed.
Ferrero now has two qualifiers in his half of the draw, his next opponent Alberto Martin, another Spaniard, and Italian Filippo Volandri.
There is no seed left in the way of Moya, who next meets the last Frenchman in the tournament, Julien Boutter, a wild card entrant after winning his first career tournament in Casablanca last week.
Tested by fellow Spaniard Felix Mantilla in the previous round, Ferrero again had to fight an uphill battle as he was trailing Gaudio 3-6, 4-5 when the match changed course.
Gaudio served a double fault as he was serving for the match, which brought Ferrero back into contention.
"Every time I play against Gaston, it is tough. It was the case again this time," said the Spaniard, who had lost four times against the Argentine in six previous encounters.
Moya, by contrast, has yet to lose a set in the tournament and will be the favorite against Boutter, who admitted he was worn out after winning eight matches in succession for the first time in his career.
"It's not as simple as it seems", said Moya, asked about the prospect of another final clash with Ferrero.
"There are other players who are playing well. All I can say is that I'm playing some of the best tennis in my life," Moya added. "I think I'm probably a better player now than I was when I won the French Open."
Boutter, 29, beat his former doubles partner Sjeng Schalken, seeded ninth, 7-6, 6-4 in the third round
"I played Moya in Toronto last year and he is by far the most impressive player I've ever played," the Frenchman said.
While most seeds crashed out in the first three rounds, except the leading two, qualifiers kept shining on the principality's clay.
Volandri, who had not won a match on the ATP circuit for the last two seasons, overcame Swede Magnus Norman 7-5 6-3.
Norman had hinted he might be returning to his best -- number two in the world in 2000 -- when he beat Gustavo Kuerten in the previous round.
Spaniard Martin, also a qualifier, beat compatriot Fernando Vicente 6-4, 7-6.
But the tournament lost its teenage sensation Rafael Nadal, who had upset French Open champion Albert Costa in the previous round. The 16-year-old lost to Argentine Guillermo Coria 7-6, 6-2.
Bausch & Lomb
Lisa Raymond used 14 aces to subdue fifth seed Jelena Dokic 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 in the third round of the Bausch & Lomb Championships on Thursday.
The 12th-seeded American recorded the only major upset of the event so far, in which most of the favorites have moved through.
It was a popular one with the crowd, as Raymond twice won the NCAA singles title while playing for Florida.
The 29-year-old will meet Jennifer Capriati in Friday's quarter-finals. Capriati struggled but rallied to defeat 15th-seeded Paola Suarez 2-6, 6-2, 7-5.
In other matches, fourth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova stopped 16th-seeded Alexandra Stevenson 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, Monica Seles, the sixth seed, stopped 11th-seeded Nathalie Dechy 6-1 6-2 and 10th-seeded Elena Dementieva got past eighth-seeded Amanda Coetzer 7-6, 6-3.
Seventh seed Patty Schnyder also advanced with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 over ninth seed Meghann Shaughnessy and second-seeded Lindsay Davenport won 6-1, 6-1 over qualifier Marlene Weingartner.
Top-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne advanced on a walk-over when Clarisa Fernandez pulled out.
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