Gonzalez, Ferrer, Davydenko advance

BARCELONA, Spain, April 24 (UPI) -- Fifth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile topped Fernando Verdasco of Spain Friday to reach the semifinals of the Barcelona Open tennis tournament.

Gonzalez, seeded No. 5., won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in a match that lasted 2 hours, 17 minutes, slamming seven aces to none for Verdasco.

The Chilean player will next meet Spain's David Ferrer, the No. 5 seed, who defeated countryman Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4.

In the other semifinal, top-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain, trying for his fifth straight Barcelona title, goes against third-seeded Nikolay Davydenko of Russia Saturday.

Nadal moved on to the semis Thursday after his quarterfinal opponent, Argentina's David Nalbandian, withdrew because of a hip injury.

Davydenko advanced with a come-from-behind 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-2 victory Friday over Czech Radek Stepanek.