AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Top-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer defeated eighth-seeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber in a battle of past champions Thursday at the $450,000 Heineken Open, a final Australian Open tune-up.
Ferrer, the 2007 Auckland titlist, outlasted 2008 titlist Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 to reach the semifinals. The Spaniard beat the German for the sixth time in nine encounters.
The world No. 7 Ferrer, who won two ATP titles in 2010, will next face Colombian Santiago Giraldo, who cruised past seventh-seeded Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 6-2, 6-4 on Day 4.
Second-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro dismissed French qualifier Adrian Mannarino 7-6 (7-3), 6-7 (1-7), 6-2. Almagro will try to reach his first hardcourt final when he next takes on sixth-seeded Argentine star David Nalbandian, who handled reigning champion John Isner of the United States 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
The 6-foot-9 Isner, the third seed this week, beat 5-foot-8 Frenchman Arnaud Clement in last year's Auckland finale.
