Ferrer posts rout in UNICEF quarterfinal

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'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, Netherlands, June 21 (UPI) -- Top-seeded David Ferrer posted a dominant straight-set victory Thursday in quarterfinal play at the UNICEF Open tennis tournament in the Netherlands.

Ferrer routed Dutch player Igor Sijsling 6-0, 6-1 in 42 minutes. Ferrer dropped just three points in his seven service games. That includes winning three games at love in the opening set.

He was nearly as controlling in receiving serve, winning 62 percent of those points and finishing off five of his seven break opportunities.

Ferrer is 41-8 in 2012, which is tied with Rafael Nadal for the best ATP record of the year.

Ferrer will go against Benoit Paire in Friday's semifinals. Paire advanced with a 6-3, 7-5 decision over Tatsuma Ito. Paire had 15 aces and dropped his serve just once in the match.

Qualifier Philipp Petzschner got past Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-4, 7-5 (8-6). The match was tight, with Petzschner, who had 14 aces, winning 81 points to Roger-Vasselin's 76.

Xavier Malisse claimed the other semifinal spot, defeating Gilles Muller 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. Malisse cashed in both of his break chances while losing just three points on serve in the third set.

Ferrer is 2-0 lifetime versus Paire, having posting straight-sets wins at Wimbledon last year and the French Open this year. Malisse and Petzschner will be playing each other first the first time.