Verdasco ousts Ferrero to reach final

VALENCIA, Spain, April 17 (UPI) -- Fernando Verdasco of Spain did what top-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero couldn't Saturday, pull off double duty to reach the final of the Valencia Open.

Due to rain Friday, three quarterfinal matches were played Saturday, with the semifinals held later in the day.

Ferrero, the defending champion, defeated 20-year-old Croatian Mario Ancic, 6-4, 6-4, to reach the semifinal and Verdasco completed a 6-2, 6-3 victory over another countryman, seventh seed David Ferrero.

Sixth seed Alberto Martin of Spain crushed last year's finalist, Christophe Rochus of Belgium, 6-1, 6-2, in the other quarterfinal.

In the semifinals, Verdasco stunned the third-ranked Ferrero, 6-2, 6-1, in just 60 minutes to advance to his second career ATP final.

The 20-year-old Madrid resident reached his first career final at the Mexican Open at Acapulco in March, losing to compatriot Carlos Moya.