David Ferrer takes on Gael Monfils at Erste Bank Open
Saturday 24 October 2015 15:59, UK
Top seed David Ferrer faces a mouthwatering showdown against Frenchman Gael Monfils for a place in the Erste Bank Open final in Vienna.
The in-form Spaniard, who lost to Andy Murray in last year's final, blew Guillermo Garcia-Lopez away in 62 minutes to reach the last eight before racing past Fabio Fognini 6-4 6-2 to stretch his unbeaten record over the Italian to 9-0.
Ferrer will now face the flamboyant sixth seed Monfils and knows victory in the Austrian capital would take him a long way towards qualifying for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals at London's O2.
"I have a huge advantage against my pursuers, but I want to qualify by my own means and not based upon the errors of my rivals," the winner of 25 ATP tournaments told the Erste Bank Open official website.
The other semi-final clash will see unpredictable Latvian Ernests Gulbis take on American Steve Johnson.
Gulbis, who dropped to rank 117 in the rankings due to a wrist injury, upset the dangerous-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) to reach his first semi-final of the season.
World No 47 Johnson reached his third semi-final of the season after knocking out second seed Kevin Anderson from South Africa.
Live ATP Tennis
Watch the semi-finals of the Erste Bank Open on Sky Sports 3 from 1pm on Saturday.
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