Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay ousted former champion Jose Acasuso 6-3, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals of the Movistar Open on Friday.
Cuevas, playing in his first ATP quarterfinal, broke 2006 champion Acasuso of Argentina, who hadn't dropped a set, four times.
Next up for Cuevas will be top-seeded Fernando Gonzalez, who pleased home fans by dispatching Carlos Berlocq of Argentina 7-5, 6-0 without losing his serve.
PHOTO: AFP
Gonzalez remained on course to put a Chilean in the final for a seventh straight year. He won the title in 2002 and 2004.
Third-seeded Juan Monaco beat fellow Argentine Juan Pablo Brzezicki 6-2, 6-3.
Monaco's second semi-final in a month will be against Santiago Ventura of Spain, who defeated first-time quarter-finalist Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-3, 6-3.
"This is the best match I've played in this tournament," said Monaco, who converted four of his 14 break point chances.
He said Brzezicki "probably didn't play as well as he had been playing until now. But for me the important thing was to continue to advance, and be prepared to play Ventura."
"It won't be an easy match because he is a very talented player," he said.
Ventura was into the final four of an ATP event for the first time since April at Valencia.
He and Monaco have never met.
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