Almagro moves into Buenos Aires quarters

BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Nicolas Almagro, seeking his second straight ATP Tour title, rallied Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Copa Claro in Buenos Aires.

Almagro won the Brazil Open in his most recent appearance and he also reached the fourth round of the Australian Open. He improved his match record this year to 11-2 by outlasting Leonardo Mayer 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 6-3 on the red clay at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.

Almagro will next meet Jose Acasuso, who also came from behind to defeat Pablo Cuevas 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, 6-1.

No. 3 seed David Nalbandian made it to the quarterfinal round with a 6-1, 6-2 drubbing of Juan Pablo Brzezicki in a match that took just 69 minutes.

Tommy Robredo, the sixth seed, will take on Nalbandian after ousting Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 7-5.

The other four second-round matches will be played Friday. No. 2 seed Stanislas Wawrinka will face Victor Hanescu and fourth-seeded Albert Montanes will be up against Fabio Fognini.