Monaco, Chela fight into final four
02/04/2012 04:24:55 AM
Top seeds Juan Monaco and Juan Ignacio Chela battled into the semi-finals of the VTR Open with wins on Friday.
Monaco, seeded one, edged Spanish fifth seed Albert Montanes 3-6 6-1 6-1 in almost two hours on the clay courts of Vina del Mar, Chile.
The Argentine, 29, looked headed for a third consecutive loss to Montanes, before converting three break point chances in the second set to level the match.
Montanes was only able to win five points on Monaco's serve in the decider, leaving the world number 29 to cruise to the win.
Awaiting Monaco in the last four is Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, who overcame Portugal's Frederico Gil 6-2 7-6 (7-5).
On the other side of the draw, second seed Chela needed three hours to beat Brazilian Joao Souza 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 6-1.
World number 25 Chela converted three of four break-point chances in the deciding set, while only allowing Souza eight points on his serve.
The Argentine will face countryman Carlos Berlocq in the semi-finals.
Berlocq easily disposed of another Argentine, breezing past Federico Delbonis 6-3 6-4.