Robredo reaches Valencia quarterfinals

VALENCIA, Spain, April 16 (UPI) -- Juan Monaco and Tommy Robredo, seeded second and third, were among the winners Wednesday at the Valencia Open in Spain.

Monaco fought past Werner Eschauer 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4 in an opening-round match. Robredo was a second-round winner over Santiago Ventura 6-7 (7-9), 6-3, 6-4.

Robredo earned a quarterfinal meeting against Potito Starace, the runner-up in this event last year. They will play Friday. Starace advanced with a 7-5, 6-1 decision over Gael Monfils.

In other first-round action, seventh-seeded Fernando Verdasco outlasted Nicolas Lapentti 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 and Robin Haase was leading Yuri Schukin 6-4, 4-1 when Schukin retired with an elbow injury.

Top-seeded David Ferrer will play a second-round match Thursday against Pablo Andujar.