Top four seeds triumph in Swedish Open

BASTAD, Sweden, July 11 (UPI) -- Defending champion David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo and Tomas Berdych, the top four seeds, advanced to the semifinals Friday in the Swedish Open.

The No. 1 Ferrer, of Spain, fought off a tough challenge by Swede Robin Soderling to win 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1 at the Bastad Tennis Stadium.

Verdasco, Ferrer's countryman, dropped the first set but rallied to sweep past Swedish qualifier Bjorn Rehnquist 2-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Robredo, No. 3, another Spaniard, ousted Finn Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).

The fourth-seeded Berdych, of the Czech Republic, cruised past Italian Potito Starace 6-3, 6-2.

Ferrer plays Robredo and Verdasco takes on Berdych in the semis Saturday.