Gulbis Ends Italian Hopes; Tsonga To Face Ferrer

© Getty ImagesDavid Ferrer leads the ATP World Tour with a 21-3 clay-court record this year.

Latvian Ernests Gulbis followed up his stunning victory over Roger Federer by ending Italian hopes at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia with a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(4) third-round victory over Filippo Volandri Thursday.

The 21-year-old Gulbis, who clinched the biggest win of his career Tuesday over World No. 1 Federer, needed two hours and 42 minutes to overcome a spirited challenge from 2007 semi-finalist Volandri. The Italian saved one match point in the 10th game of the final set, but could not prevent Gulbis from claiming victory in the tie-break.

"I played a little strange but I'm very happy that I won today," reflected Gulbis. "I think that is the most important thing because I won against Federer two days ago and the next match is mentally very tough."

World No. 40 Gulbis improved to an 18-7 match record on the season, highlighted by winning his first ATP World Tour title in Delray Beach (d. Karlovic) in February. He came into Rome in good form, having last week posted a quarter-final effort at the Barcelona Open BancSabadell, where he lost out to eventual champion Fernando Verdasco.

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For a place in his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final Gulbis will face Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, who progressed when his opponent, No. 11 seed Ivan Ljubicic, withdrew prior to their match with a left side strain.

Seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga secured his quarter-final berth by ending the run of Colombian qualifier Santiago Giraldo 6-3, 6-4 in 88 minutes. Giraldo had crushed former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero in the first round and followed with victory over Michael Llodra, but was broken once in each set as he succumbed to the No. 10-ranked Tsonga.

Tsonga is through to his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 quarter-final of the season, having also reached the last eight at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami (l. to Nadal). The Frenchman, who also advanced to the semi-finals of the Australian Open (l. to Federer) at the start of the year, improved to a 19-8 mark on the season.

In the quarter-finals Tsonga will face No. 13 seed David Ferrer, who accounted for World No. 5 Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4. The Spaniard broke serve in the sixth game of the first set and again in the seventh game of the second set and was able to save all three break points he faced to win in one hour and 36 minutes.

The 28-year-old Ferrer leads the ATP World Tour with a 21-3 match record on clay this season, highlighted by winning his eighth ATP World Tour title in Acapulco (d. Ferrero) and reaching the final a week earlier in Buenos Aires (l. to Ferrero). He came into Rome on the back of two semi-final efforts on clay at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (l. to Nadal) and the Barcelona Open BancSabadell (l. to Verdasco).

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"Maybe this season is my best of my career on clay courts," said Ferrer. "I’ve never won a lot of matches like this year and I’m happy for that. I think my game is very physical, very mental – it’s important for me, winning matches on clay courts, my favourite surface."

Murray, 22, snapped a three-match losing streak with his opening-round win over Andreas Seppi on Tuesday. The Scot, who reached his second Grand Slam final at the Australian Open (l. to Federer), has compiled an 11-6 match record this year.

"I am a little bit disappointed but I'm also happy with the way I hit the ball and I'm playing a lot of matches on tour so if I keep hitting the ball like that then I think I will do pretty good in a tournament soon," said Murray. "[There were] a lot of good points but I couldn't convert my chances. I wasn't able to create more break point opportunities and my serve wasn’t good. I am a lot happier today than I was last year. Today I was able to run after the ball and I fought until the end."