BARCELONA, April 23: Juan Carlos Ferrero’s revival continued with an enthralling 6-4 4-6 6-3 victory over Argentine Gaston Gaudio that earned him a place in the semifinals of the Barcelona Open on Friday. Fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal also moved into the last four of the 850,000 euro ($1.11 million) claycourt tournament when Agustin Calleri retired with back problems after losing the first set 6-2 and trailing 3-0 in the second.

The 18-year-old, who became the youngest winner of a Masters Series tournament in 15 years with last week’s victory in Monte Carlo, proved too powerful for the Argentine who was suffering the after-effects of three exhausting matches.

Calleri had been involved in six tiebreaks in his earlier matches against French teenager Gael Monfils and fellow countrymen Juan Ignacio Chela and Guillermo Coria.

“I’m delighted with the way I’m playing at the moment,” said Nadal, who enjoyed back-to-back claycourt victories in Brazil and Mexico this year and then took world number one Roger Federer to five sets in the Nasdaq-100.

“I’ve had an incredible two months and just hope I can now continue that by reaching the final here.”

Nadal faces Radek Stepanek in the semfinals. The Czech ended Swiss qualifier Stanislav Wawrinka’s fine run when he came from a set down to win 3-6 6-3 6-2.

Seventh seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko tamed big-serving Belarussian Max Mirnyi 6-4 6-4 with another controlled performance to earn his place in the semi-finals against Ferrero.

SUPERB DISPLAY: The Spaniard showed he is recovering the form that made him the 2003 French Open champion with a superb display of claycourt tennis in a three-hour epic against the second-seeded Argentine, who won the title at Roland Garros last year.

The former world number one edged an evenly balanced first set after earning a break point in the 10th game with a delicate drop volley and finished off with a clever crosscourt winner.

Gaudio, the only one of the top six seeds to reach the quarterfinals, fought back to claim a 4-0 lead in the second set and although Ferrero pulled it back to 5-4 he wrapped up with a confident service game.

Neither player gave any quarter in the third set, trading powerful ground strokes during several lengthy rallies.

A highly focused Ferrero stretched his opponent around the court, however, and made the breakthrough when he forced Gaudio into a fore-

hand error before moving 5-3 ahead.

Gaudio saved three match points before Ferrero earned a fourth with a sizzling running pass and the world number eight finally succumbed when he put his return into the net.

Results (quarterfinas)

Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) bt Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 3-6 6-3 6-2; Rafael Nadal (Spain) bt Agustin Calleri (Argentina) 6-2 3-0 RET ; Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) bt Max Mirnyi (Belarus) 6-4 6-4; Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) bt 2-Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) 6-4 4-6 6-3

Results (third round)

Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) bt Jose Acasuso (Argentina) 6-3 6-4;

Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) bt 5-Guillermo Canas (Argentina) 6-7(6)

7-6(2) 7-6(5);

Agustin Calleri (Argentina) bt Guillermo Coria (Argentina) 6-4 6-7(5) 7-6(2);

Rafael Nadal (Spain) bt Dominik Hrbaty (Slovakia) 6-1 6-2;

Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) bt Thomas Johansson (Sweden) 6-3 6-7(3) 7-6(2;

Max Mirnyi (Belarus) bt Carlos Moya (Spain) 6-4 6-4;

Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) bt Alberto Martin (Spain) 6-1 6-2;

Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) bt 13-David Ferrer (Spain) 6-3 6-4.

Agassi, Haas ousted HOUSTON (Texas):

Second seed Andre Agassi and defending champion Tommy Haas were upset in the quarterfinals of the 380,000-dollar ATP US Clay Court Championships here on Friday while top seed Andy Roddick advanced.

French sixth seed Sebastien Grosjean advanced by ousting American star Agassi 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 while seventh seed Jurgen Melzer of Austria dethroned Germany’s Haas 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Roddick, who won here in 2001 and 2002, advanced to a semifinal matchup with Melzer by beating Peruvian eighth seed Luis Horna 6-4, 6-1.

Grosjean booked a semifinal date Saturday with Ecuadoran qualifier Nicolas Lapentti, who outlasted American wild card James Blake 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/3) in a night quarterfinal.

Roddick, who has not lost a set this week, has won 21 of his first 25 ATP matches this season. He seeks his second title of the yera after winning in February at San Jose.

Agassi, one week shy of his 35th birthday, was bidding for his 60th career title in his fifth quarterfinal of the year. He has yet to reach a final.

Results (Quarterfinals)

Jurgen Melzer (AUT ) bt Tommy Haas (GER ) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4;

Andy Roddick (USA) bt Luis Horna (PER) 6-4, 6-1;

Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) bt Andre Agassi (USA ) 4-6, 6-1, 6-2;

Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) bt James Blake (USA) 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/3)

Results (Second round)

Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) bt Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2;

Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) bt Kevin Kim (USA) 7-6 (7/1), 6-2;

Andre Agassi (USA) bt Alex Calatrava (ESP) 3-6, 6-4, 7-5;

James Blake (USA) bt Antony Dupuis (FRA) 6-4, 6-1.—Agencies