Verdasco advances to Clay Court semifinals

HOUSTON (AP) Fourth-seeded Fernando Verdasco beat Donald Young Jr. 7-6 (1), 6-1 on Friday in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships.

Verdasco, from Spain, will face Santiago Giraldo in the semifinals Saturday. Giraldo beat Colombian countryman Alejandro Gonzalez 6-3, 6-4.

In the other quarterfinals Friday, Dustin Brown faced Sam Querrey, and Nicolas Almagro played Jack Sock. Verdasco and the third-seeded Almagro are the only seeded players left in the draw.

In the doubles semifinals, top-seeded Bob and Mike Bryan beat Chris Guccione and Lleyton Hewitt 7-5, 6-3, and Verdasco and David Marrero topped Giraldo and Gonzalez 6-4, 6-2.