Nadal, Mello do Double Duty at Costa Do Sauipe

Two rounds of singles were completed Thursday at the ATP claycourt stop in Costa Do Sauipe to make up for rain on Wednesday, with four exhausted players gaining the semifinals.

There were two upsets in morning second-round play, with Agustin Calleri defeating (3) Juan Ignacio Chela in an all-Argentine, and another Gaucho stealing the spotlight in qualifier Edgardo Massa, who saved one match point in upending (8) Al Costa 7-6 in the third.

Other morning winners into the quarters were Aussie qualifier Peter Luczak (d. (WC) Sa 6-0 in the third in the brutal heat), Brazil's Ricardo Mello "Yello" (d. (Q) Vassallo Arguello, who retired due to the heat), and (6) Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal (d. Spanish countryman Calatrava).

In the afternoon quarterfinals, winning second matches were (6) Nadal (d. Calleri in three), Mello (d. Ventura), and (Q) Luczak (d. (Q) Massa 6-1 in the third), joined by Spaniard Al Martin (d. (7) Zabaleta).

"I told myself to hang in there because, you never know, he's had a difficult 7-6 in the third earlier today and he is probably a little tired," said Luczak, who gained his first career ATP semifinal. "I was lucky to win the second set and in the third I think he was really tired and gave up."

Friday's semifinals in Costa Do Sauipe feature A.Martin vs. (Q) Luczak, and Brazilian homecountry favorite Mello vs. (6) Nadal.