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  • Preview: Brasil Open Round quarter finals

    2/15/08 3:30 PM | Cheryl Murray
    - With the top two seeds remaining in the draw, the quarterfinals of the Brasil Open really heats up. Players take the court Friday for a chance to get in the semi-finals.

    Carlos Moya (1) vs. Oscar Hernandez

    Carlos Moya, the veteran from Spain, will take on his countryman for the first time ever. Hernandez is a tough clay courter who has done well to reach the quarterfinals, but I think the road will end with Moya. Through the first set of his second round match, Moya looked vulnerable on clay, but in the second and third sets against Olivier Patience, he appeared to really find his footing. If Moya plays well, Hernandez will not have a chance in this match. Moya is physically stronger, has a much better serve and is able to dictate play better than his lower-ranked countryman. Moya in 2.

    Eduardo Schwank vs Nicolas Lapentti

    Nicolas Lapentti will play against his doubles partner for the first time ever. Eduardo Schwank, the twenty-two year old qualifier from Argentina, is into his first ever ATP quarterfinal. He beat the tough seeded player Igor Andreev in two surprisingly easy sets, and accomplished the same against Peter Luczak in the last round. Though Lapentti is the more experienced and has a higher ranking (112 to Schwank's 154), I think Schwank has the momentum. Schwank in 3.

    Fabio Fognini vs. Ivo Minar

    Fognini is having an outstanding start to the clay court season. He has now reached consecutive quarterfinal appearances and has taken out the eighth seed, Albert Montanes. He will take on Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic for a spot in the semifinals. The men have never met in an ATP level match and are fairly evenly ranked; Minar is ranked 96, Fognini 93. Minar had a big win over fourth seed Potito Starace in this first round, so they will both come into this match with confidence and momentum. It will be a tight contest, but I think Fognini will pull it out in three.

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