ACAPULCO, Mexico, March 1 (UPI) -- David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal both moved into the semifinals Thursday at the Mexican Open, moving a step closer to an early season showdown.
Ferrer, seeded No. 1 and ranked fourth in the world, coasted past Paolo Lorenzi in their quarterfinal encounter 6-3, 6-1. Ferrer eased past Nadal in the world rankings last year while Nadal was recovering from a knee injury that put him on the sidelines for six months.