Holder Moya suffers surprise loss
BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) -- Argentine Gaston Gaudio swept to a 6-4 6-4 victory over defending champion Carlos Moya to reach the quarterfinals of the Barcelona Open on Thursday.
Gaudio will now face three-times French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil, who defeated Argentina's Guillermo Canas 6-3 6-7 6-3.
Spanish second seed Moya struggled to find his rhythm after Gaudio, Barcelona champion in 2002, consolidated an early break of serve to claim the first set.
Moya fought back from 3-1 down in the second set but was unable to peg back his 13th-seeded opponent and failed to win a single point in the last game of the match.
Gaudio adapted better to courts slowed by rain, which had delayed the start of play for four hours. He also took full advantage of his strong service, which Moya was unable to threaten.
"I am a bit sad to lose in Barcelona," Moya said. "Above all, because I was the defending champion, but one of the good things about tennis is that next week you have a new tournament and you can't go to pieces."
Kuerten built up a 5-0 lead in the first set but Canas fought back, winning the second set in a tiebreak, only for the Brazilian to take the third with the help of his trademark powerful baseline shots.
Another Argentine, number three seed David Nalbandian, eased his way to a 6-4 6-4 victory over Spanish wild card Marc Lopez but countryman Mariano Zabaleta went out 7-6 3-6 6-2 to fifth- seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.
Belgian qualifier Kristof Vliegen secured his place in the last eight of the claycourt tournament with a 6-3 6-4 win over France's Olivier Patience.
