Monaco, Acasuso reach quarterfinals

Third-seeded Juan Monaco reached the quarterfinals of the Movistar Open in Vina del Mar, Chile with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Martin Vassallo Arguello. Monaco needed to save three match points against Vassallo Arguello, and will now face Juan Pablo Brzezicki.

Brzezicki is a 25-year old Argentinean who comes into the tournament ranked #106 in the world. He defeated Marcel Granollers-Pujol 6-2, 6-2 to reach his first career ATP-level quarterfinal. This will be his first career ATP match against Monaco, but the two have faced each other twice in Challengers and Futures with Monaco winning both matches.

Also winning was seventh-seeded Jose Acasuso of Argentina. He defeated Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals. He will now face Pablo Cuevas, who upset fourth-seeded Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-3. Cuevas, like Brzezicki, has reached his first career ATP quarterfinal. This will be the first career match between Acasuso and Cuevas.

Top-seeded Fernando Gonzalez is scheduled to play today against Argentinean Diego Hartfield.

Elias wins Futures event in Boca Raton

Gastao Elias, who trains at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, won the USA F3 Futures by beating fifth-seeded Alberto Francis 7-5, 6-4 in the finals. Elias, who won the 2007 Boys 18’s Eddie Herr singles title, also defeated the top-seed in the tournament, Ilija Bozoljac, en route to the title.

Congratulations to Gastao on winning the tournament!!