Monaco into Sao Paulo QFs

Sao Paulo, Brazil (SportsNetwork.com) - Fourth seed Juan Monaco was a hard- fought second-round winner Thursday at the Brasil Open tennis event.

The former top-10 Argentine star held off Spaniard Albert Ramos 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 7-5 at this clay court tournament.

Monaco's quarterfinal opponent on Friday will be Italian Paolo Lorenzi, who handled Brazilian qualifier Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-4, 6-3 on Day 4.