Second seed Robin Soderling has set up a semi-final against local favourite David Ferrer after beating Gael Monfils in straight sets to reach the last four of the Valencia tennis Open.
The imposing Swedish world number five did not face a single break point against the Frenchman, who won last week's tournament in Montpellier, and converted three of his four opportunities to break his opponent's serve.
Fourth-seeded Ferrer, who is desperate for ranking points to clinch a spot at this month's ATP World Tour finals in London, saw off unseeded Italian Potito Starace in the late match at the cathedral-like indoor Agora arena.
The other semi-final with be between Monfils's compatriot Gilles Simon aand Spaniard Marcel Granollers.
Ferrer has a good chance of clinching one of the three remaining berths at the Tour finals, for which Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Soderling have all qualified.
As of today, Tomas Berdych, Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco, Mikhail Youzhny and Juergen Melzer can still make it to London, with more ranking points available at the Paris Masters next week.
