Ferrer sees off Janowicz

Valencia - World No 3 David Ferrer reached the semi-finals of the Valencia Open for the fourth consecutive year with 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 win over fifth seed Jerzy Janowicz.

Ferrer broke the big-serving Pole for the first time this week on his way to taking the opening set, but Janowicz responded with the one break of his own enough to take the second.

However, Ferrer, the three-time champion in his home region, took control at the start of the decider as the errors flowed from the Janowicz racket to race through the set without the lose of a game.

"It was a very hard game, he served very well," Ferrer told Spanish TV station Teledeporte.

"He doesn't allow you to gain rhythm with his huge serve and it is very difficult.

"In the first two sets I missed more than normal, but in the third I managed to concentrate and produce better tennis."

Next up for Ferrer is compatriot Nicolas Almagro after the third seed disposed of Italian Fabio Fognini 7-6 (8/6), 6-2 in the evening session.

The other semi-final will be an all-Russian affair between Mikhail Youzhny and Dmitry Tursunov after they overcame Jarkko Nieminen and Jeremy Chardy respectively on Friday.

Results from the fifth day of the ATP Valencia Open on Friday (x denotes seeding):

Quarter-finals

Nicolas Almagro (ESP x3) bt Fabio Fognini (ITA x7) 7-6 (8/6), 6-2

David Ferrer (ESP x1) bt Jerzy Janowicz (POL x5) 6-4, 4-6, 6-0

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) bt Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4

Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) bt Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-3, 6-3