For the second time in three weeks, Wild Card Mariano Puerta defeated No. 1 seed Carlos Moya. After a straight-set upset win over the Spaniard in ATP Buenos Aires two weeks ago, Puerta once again used his skills that got him to the top 20 in year 2000 to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco.
Puerta will now play Felix Mantilla, who overcame fellow countryman and No. 7 seed David Ferrer 7-5, 6-2.
No. 3 seed Guillermo Canas looked strong again to beat French qualifier, Nicholas Devilder 6-0, 7-5 and will now play No. 8 seed Rafael Nadal, who defeated Santiago Ventura 7-6(0) 6-2.
Other second round winners were No. 6 Filippo Volandri, Jiri Novak, Albert Montanes and Agustin Calleri.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
Calleri: "I am feeling really good this week and my goal is to win the event as I did two years ago. I still have the bad feeling from last year when I lost first round. It is true that I came late from Brazil after the final in Sauipe, but this year I came a bit earlier and I had the time to get use to the conditions. I knew Monaco very well since we practiced and shared coach last year."
Nadal: "I am not playing at my best, I did not do it in the first match and today it was no exception. Tomorrow against Canas I am going to have to play at my best since he is 11 in the World, playing at his best and we all know he is a very tough opponent. I am sure it is going to be a very exciting match"
Canas: "The match tomorrow against Nadal is going to be a very good one, I am sure of this. There are going to be a lot of rallies from the base line with great shots. I am sure the crowd will have a great time. Nadal is young and I am sure that with the win he had in Sauipe last week, his confidence is at the top. At the same time he is hungry and I am sure it will be very difficult to beat him"
Moya: "Mariano played great today and I had only a few chances to control the game. I did not take them and I ended up losing"
Volandri: "It was a good match today. Beto Martin had great results in this swing and I knew it would be very difficult. After winning the first set I saw the chance and took it. Last year I lost to Moya in the Quarterfinals with Moya really inspired. This year I am back in the semis and it would be great to play here semis and why not ream with the final at this big event (International Series Gold).
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