Ferrero outlasts Massu to reach Auckland semi-finals

WELLINGTON: Former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero outlasted Chile's Nicolas Massu in an epic baseline battle on Thursday to advance to the semi-finals of the Auckland Open.   

The 2003 French Open champion took almost two and a half hours to dispatch the double Olympic champion 4-6 6-3 6-4. 

"I don't think that I played my best tennis today," Ferrero said. "The wind was a little bit more difficult today but mentally I was very consistent all the match and I think it was one of the keys to winning."  

"I played good tennis but I should have made more winners with my forehand and been a little bit more aggressive."

The 27-year-old Spaniard will now meet France's Julien Benneteau in the semi-finals after he upset champion and top seed David Ferrer of Spain 6-4 6-0. German seventh seed Philipp Kohlschreiber was the first player through to the semi-finals with a 6-3 6-4 victory over compatriot Florian Mayer.   

"With him you have to fight to stay calm because sometimes he plays unbelievable shots," said Kohlschreiber.

"He's a tough opponent and you never know what to expect."   

It is the first time Kohlschreiber has reached the semi-finals on his fourth visit to Auckland.   

"I was two times in the quarter-finals here so this was another step for me and I'm pretty happy," he added.  

The 24-year old will now meet third seed Juan Monaco after the Argentine beat France's Michel Llodra 4-6 7-6 7-6.