Granollers returns to Valencia semis

Marcel Granollers ousted third-seeded Gael Monfils Friday in advancing to the semifinals of the Valencia Open tennis tournament in Spain. Granollers, who was the runner-up to David Ferrer in Valencia last year, took a marathon first-set tiebreaker and then held on for a 7-6 (14-12), 3-6, 6-4 win over Monfils. Both players had four service breaks but two of Granollers' came in the third set when he only dropped serve once. Ferrer, the No. 1 seed this week, also gained the semifinals again. He beat Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-4 by winning nearly three-quarters of the points when serving. Ferrer has lost more than three games in a set just once this week. Sixth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro beat Sam Querrey 6-2, 7-5 and Juan Monaco topped Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-3 in the other quarterfinals. Ferrer will go against Monaco in Saturday's semifinals while del Potro draws Granollers in the first career meeting between the two. Ferrer and Monaco have split their previous six matches.