Fernando Verdasco, third favorite in the tournament in Saint Petersburg, was classified for the semifinals imposed after the German Rainer Schuettler, by 7-5 and 6-2 in one hour and 28 minutes.
Verdasco suffered only in the first set, with both players unfortunate with their service, which have led to the Spanish nine-ball 'break' for three of the German. Of these, the Madrid materialized three, two of Schuettler, which gave Verdasco the first by 7-5.
Second set, however, had a remarkable kick Verdasco, who has entered its first services and this is a remarkably Schuettler acknowledged that this time it did not have any opportunity to break the serve of his opponent.
Verdasco also expressed with the rest and endorsed the twice breaking serve in the match, making it easily with the second set, for 6-2, and with it the match. Will be measured on the winner of the duel between the Scot Andy Murray (n.1), who won Sunday's Madrid Masters, and Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.
Verdasco not disputed the semifinals of a tournament since last August at New Haven (hard), in its regular course since its emergence in the circuit in 2001. Champion in Umag (clay), a finalist at Nottingham (grass) and semifinalist in Bastad (clay), the Madrid demonstrated its ability to pay on any surface, outdoors or indoors.
Premature defeat in the big events, like the previous week in Madrid, have closed the door, although not mathematically, which leads to Shanghai.
