Ferrer beats Almagro at Valencia, makes semi-finals

Valencia: David Ferrer beat his Spanish Davis Cup team-mate Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 7-5 on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Valencia Open.

The fifth-ranked Ferrer was little troubled on the hard indoor surface as he improved to 12-0 against an opponent who will become his team-mate next month in the Czech Republic when Spain looks to defend its Davis Cup title.

Ferrer has won the Valencia title twice and has never lost to Almagro, a record that includes four encounters this season. Almagro had a triple-break chance in the sixth game of the second set but failed to turn it around as Ferrer held before breaking in the 11th game. Ferrer saved his fourth break point in the final game before clinching the win when Almagro hit long.

While Jurgen Melzer and Alexandr Dolgopolov each won to set up their own semi-final match.

Earlier, Jurgen Melzer and Alexandr Dolgopolov each won to set up their own semi-final match. Melzer, who hasn't dropped a set at the tournament, beat David Goffin of Belgium 7-6 (7), 6-4. The Austrian overcame a poor first serve, including seven double-faults.

Dolgopolov defeated defending champion Marcel Granollers 6-0, 6-2. "It was for sure easier than expected. He was frustrated and he wasn't playing his best tennis," said the 21st-ranked Dolgopolov, who broke the Spaniard five times. Granollers is expected to lead Spain's doubles team in Prague.

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