The Movistar Open semi-finals feature the top three seeds of Fernando Gonzalez, Juan Monaco and Thomaz Bellucci, along with Brazilian qualifier Joao Souza.

This is the third time since 2004 two Brazilians have reached the semi-finals in an ATP World Tour tournament. Last summer in Gstaad, Brazilians Marcos Daniel and Bellucci advanced to the semi-finals. Prior to that, the last time was in Vina del Mar in 2004 when Gustavo Kuerten and Flavio Saretta accomplished the feat.

In the opening semi-final, Souza and Monaco square off for the first time. Souza is making his ATP World Tour main draw debut and since dropping the first set of his opening round match against No. 7 seed Simon Greul, the 21-year-old has won the last six sets he's played

Monaco is trying to reach the final for the second time in three years. Two years ago he reached the final but couldn't play due to a left ankle injury he sustained in the doubles final the day before.

Monaco is trying to reach his 10th career ATP World Tour final (3-6), all on clay. Since winning his last title in Kitzbuehel on July 29, 2007, he's been runner-up in five tournaments, including three last year. An Argentine has reached the Chilean final in four of the past five years (except '07). The last Argentine winner was Jose Acasuso in 2006.

In the second semi-final, Gonzalez and Bellucci meet for the second time. Last October at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Shanghai, the Chilean won 6-3, 6-4 in the second round.

Gonzalez is appearing in the semi-finals for the seventh time in the past eight home tournament appearances. The four-time champion has won 11 matches in a row at the tournament since a quarter-final loss to Albert Montanes three years ago.

Gonzalez has a career record of 31-5, capturing the title in 2002, '04, '08-09. He is 11-11 lifetime in ATP World Tour finals. Bellucci is trying to reach his third career ATP World Tour final. Last season he was a runner-up on home soil in Costa do Sauipe (l. to Robredo) and on Aug. 2 he earned his first ATP World Tour title in Gstaad (d. A. Beck).

The last Brazilian to reach the final in Chile was Gustavo Kuerten in 2004 (l. to Gonzalez) and the last champion was Kuerten in 2000 (d. Puerta).
 
SATURDAY SEMI-FINAL HEAD-TO-HEADS – In Order of Play

(Q) Joao Souza (BRA) vs (2) Juan Monaco (ARG)  First Meeting

Souza FastFacts:
2010 Highlights:
YTD W-L: 3-0
YTD Titles: 0
Career Titles: 0
Date of Birth: May 27, 1988
South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking: 208

Monaco FastFacts:
2010 Highlights:
YTD W-L: 6-2
YTD Titles: 0
Career Titles: 3
Date of Birth: March 29, 1984
South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking: 29

(1) Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs (3) Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) Gonzalez Leads 1-0
09 ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai (China) Hard R32 Fernando Gonzalez 6-3 6-4

Gonzalez FastFacts:
2010 Highlights:
YTD W-L: 6-1
YTD Titles: 0
Career Titles: 11
Date of Birth: July 29, 1980
South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking: 11

Bellucci FastFacts:
2010 Highlights:
QF: Brisbane (l Berdych)
YTD W-L: 7-3
YTD Titles: 0
Career Titles: 1
Date of Birth: December 30, 1987
South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking: 35

POTENTIAL FINAL HEAD-TO-HEADS

Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs Joao Souza (BRA)   First Meeting

Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs Juan Monaco (ARG)  Gonzalez Leads 5-0
04 Bastad (Sweden) Clay QF Fernando Gonzalez 6-4 6-4
07 ATP Masters Series Madrid (Spain) Hard R16 Fernando Gonzalez 6-4 6-2
09 Viña del Mar (Chile) Clay QF Fernando Gonzalez 6-0 6-2
09 Barcelona (Spain) Clay R16 Fernando Gonzalez 7-6(6)6-3
09 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome Clay QF Fernando Gonzalez 2-6 6-3 6-4

Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) vs Joao Souza (BRA)   First ATP Meeting
Other Meetings:
07 Brazil F3 (Brazil) Clay QF Joao Souza 6-1 6-4
08 Santiago CH (Chile) Clay SF Thomaz Bellucci 6-3 6-7(5) 6-4
09 Sao Paulo-2 CH (Brazil) Clay R32 Thomaz Bellucci 4-6 6-3 6-2

Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) vs Juan Monaco (ARG)   First Meeting


DOUBLES FINAL – TOP SEEDS KUBOT-MARACH TAKE ON FIRST-TIME DUO OF STARACE-ZEBALLOS

The top-seeded team of Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach take on the first-time duo of Potito Starace and Horacio Zeballos in Saturday's doubles championship at the Movistar Open.

Kubot and Marach, who went 3-1 in ATP World Tour finals last season en route to the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, finished No. 7 in the ATP Team Rankings. Kubot is 3-3 lifetime in finals and Marach is 5-5 in ATP World Tour title matches. They have dropped the first set in their last two matches en route to the final.

Starace and Zeballos defeated the No. 3 seeds, Cuevas-Granollers in the first round, and they have dropped only one set en route to the title match.

Starace is 3-1 in his career in ATP World Tour doubles finals while Zeballos is making his debut in a doubles title match. Last October the Argentine reached his first ATP World Tour singles final in St. Petersburg (l. to Stakhovsky).