Buenos Aires, Argentina – Top-seeded and defending champion David Ferrer cruised into the semifinals at the clay-court Copa Claro tennis event.
The world No. 4 Spanish star whipped sixth-seeded Italian Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-1 in 75 minutes at Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.
Ferrer, who led the ATP with seven titles last year, beat 2011 champion Nicolas Almagro in last year's all-Spanish final in this Argentine capital and was the Buenos Aires runner-up in 2010.
The gritty Ferrer's final-four opponent will be fellow Spaniard, former Buenos Aires champ and one-time world No. 5 Tommy Robredo, who pasted German qualifier Julian Reister 6-3, 6-2 on Friday.
Almagro, the second seed in this year's event, also advanced to Saturday's semis after needing just an hour and 10 minutes to dispose of Argentine Federico Delbonis 6-1, 7-6 (7-3). The world No. 11 ripped off eight aces and won 73 percent of his first serves while never facing a break point for the match.
His victory sets up a matchup with third-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka, with the Swiss veteran ousting eighth-seeded Albert Ramos 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 to reach his first semifinal on the tour this season.
This week's champ will pocket $84,550.
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