Ferrero, Homecountry Volandri Win at ATP Palermo

Spanish No. 3 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero eased into the quarterfinals Wednesday at the ATP claycourt stop in Palermo with a straight-set win over countryman Oscar Hernandez while another Spaniard wasn't so lucky, with No. 5 Fernando Verdasco getting routed 6-1 in the third by Germany's Tomas Behrend.

No. 6 Filippo Volandri pleased the home crowd with a 6-3, 6-0 dismantling of Nicolas Massu, who has yet to regain his confidence after a wrist injury earlier in the year.

Unseeded players into the quarterfinals were Spaniard Al Martin (d. (Q) Elsner), and Russian Igor Andreev (d. (WC) Aldi in three).

On court Thursday are Montanes vs. (2) Robredo in an all-Spanish, Seppi vs. Sabau, (6) Volandri vs. C.Rochus, and Chela vs. (8) Sanguinetti.