2008 champion Fernando Verdasco dug deep in his match against the enigmatic Ernests Gulbis here in Umag, as he won the match 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

The left handed Spaniard now has an 18-8 record on clay this season. His best result on the surface came in Acapula where he was the losing finalist to David Ferrer.

Gulbis was once again having an off day, and played erratic tennis. He was responsible for his own destruction as is the case on most days, serving 9 double-faults.

The top-seeded Spaniard will now face Russian Andrey Kuznetsov, who made quick work of Mate Pavic from Croatia. This was the right hander's first win on tour this year.

Talented Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov made a swift start himself defeating the dangerous Fabio Fognini in straight sets 6-2,6-4. He needed just an hour and sixteen minutes to dispatch the Italian.

He improved to a 17-14 match record on the season, highlighted by finishing runner-up at the Brisbane International (l. to Murray) and reaching the quarter-finals at the Mutua Madrid Open (l. to del Potro).