ATP News : 2006


Verdasco, Kohlschreiber Win; Rain Blights Play

Third-seeded Fernando Verdasco managed to avoid the torrential rain that cut short Wednesday’s program for a place in the Allianz Suisse Open quarterfinals in Gstaad


Verdasco continued his solid play of late by storming past Casablanca champion Daniele Bracciali 6-3, 6-1 in 52 minutes. The hard-hitting left-hander fired four aces and won 83 per cent of the points on his first serve while saving all three break points he faced.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who won 12 of his last 17 matches, reached a career-high No. 24 in the INDESIT ATP Ranking this week after advancing to the fourth round of Wimbledon last week (l. to Stepanek).
Verdasco will now have a chance to avenge his three-set Las Vegas defeat against Philipp Kohlschreiber in the quarterfinals.
Kohlschreiber was forced off court at one-set all in his second round clash against Czech wild card Jiri Novak.
Upon their return to Roy Emerson Arena, the German raced through the final set for a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1 win in one hour and 52 minutes.
Kohlschreiber won 35 of 48 points on first serve, breaking Novak on four of nine occasions.
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo and sixth-seeded Feliciano Lopez will return on Thursday for their all-Spanish clash for a place in the last eight against either top-seeded Ivan Ljubicic or wild card Marco Chiudinelli, who were also left frustrated by the weather.



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