Gonzalez through in Chile

Top seed Fernando Gonzalez came through a stiff examination before booking his place in the semi-finals of the Movistar Open.

Home favourite edges past Spaniard to reach last four

Top seed Fernando Gonzalez came through a stiff examination before booking his place in the semi-finals of the Movistar Open in Santiago. The crowd favourite required two-and-a-quarter hours to overcome Marcel Granollers of Spain 7-6 7-6 following two fiercely contested tie-breaks. Each player was broken three times in the topsy-turvy encounter before the Chilean came through 10-8 and 11-9 in the breakers to earn his 11th straight win in the tournament. Gonzalez, who has not lost a match in Santiago since a quarter-final loss three years ago, will take on third seed Thomasz Bellucci of Brazil for a place in the final. Bellucci eased into the last four with a 6-4 6-4 triumph over Eduardo Schwank of Argentina while the other semi-final will be contested by second seed Juan Monaco and the unranked Joao Souza of Brazil. Monaco was pushed all the way by Australian qualifier Peter Luczak 6-4 3-6 6-3 while Souza crushed Alberto Martin of Spain 6-2 6-4.