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Live Commentary: French Open: Tommy Robredo vs. David Ferrer - as it happened

Live coverage of the quarter-final match between Spaniards David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo at the French Open.
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David Ferrer booked his place in the semi-finals of the French Open with a comfortable straight-sets win over Tommy Robredo.

The fourth seed needed less than 90 minutes to beat his compatriot, who had played several five-set matches to reach the last eight.

Ferrer will face either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Roger Federer in the next round.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good afternoon. It's almost time for the quarter-final match between fourth seed David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo, who is seeded 32nd. The winner of this match will face either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Roger Federer in the last four.

It's been a fairly straight-forward tournament for the world number five so far. He's won all his matches to reach this point in straight sets, and is looking to match his 2012 run, which saw him reach the last four, knocking Andy Murray out at the quarter-final stage.

Robredo has had it much tougher, coming from two-sets down three times to secure his place in the last eight. He's never made it to the last four of a grand slam before, and will have to beat a tough opponent if he's to do that here.

With the warm ups over, it's Ferrer to serve first in this all-Spanish quarter-final.

Ferrer makes a nervous start with a double fault, but hits back with an ace, before placing a stunning forehand shot on the sideline. Robredo looks to utilise his backhand, but pulls his effort wide allowing Ferrer to claim the opening game with a backhand to the right-hand side of the court.

Robredo makes a confident start to his service game, claiming the opening two points with some strong volleying. The 32nd seed tries to rush his forehand to wrap the game up, but fires it long, before some good returning from Ferrer gets him back into the game, but a mis-hit return allows Robredo to hold

Robredo catches Ferrer out early on with a superb backhand down the sideline, which his ever-athletic opponent couldn't reach in time. After some missed first serves, Ferrer manages to find his rhythm towards the end of the game, giving him another comfortable hold of serve.

BREAK! There's some confusion at the start of the game, as Robredo is unhappy with the balls. It sounded like he was suggesting they may be more than four games old, but the umpire shows him some other balls for comparison and he seems happy to get his service game underway. Ferrer seems keen to get his opponent involved in some lengthy rallies, knowing that Robredo has needed five hours more on court to get to the quarter-finals. Ferrer tries to bring up three break points with a smash past his compatriot, but his mis-times his effort and hits the net. A long shot on the next point gives Ferrer two break points, but another shot to the net sees the first point saved, before a wide forehand takes the game to deuce. Robredo manages to save two more break points, but as Ferrer attacks on his fifth, Robredo hits his backhand into the net.

Robredo is fighting hard as he tries to break back, but he tries too hard and sends a couple of shots long early in the game. However, he persists with his attacking approach and takes the game to deuce. The 32nd seeds forehand creeps just wide, giving his opponent advantage, and Ferrer wraps up the game by leaping high to reach the ball for a volley into an open court.

Robredo finds some strong serves to stretch his opponent, making his deliveries difficult to return, despite missing a couple of his first serves. Robredo quickly takes a 40-15 lead before sealing the game with a brilliant forehand winner. That was Robredo's most comfortable service game of the match so far.

It's a comfortable service game from Ferrer, as he prevent Robredo from taking a single point, with a series of well-placed serves and stunning forehand strokes. While Robredo's serve has got stronger as the match has gone on, he appears to have lost some of his early aggression against the Ferrer serve. The fourth seed needs just one more game to take this opening set.

SET! Robredo 2-6 Ferrer

It's a lackluster finish to the opening set from Robredo, as his serves fail to test the world number five. Ferrer quickly takes a 40-0 lead, and needs just one of the three set points to wrap up the opener, and Robredo fires his forehand long.

The first set is also over in the other men's quarter-final taking place this afternoon. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has taken a one-set lead over Roger Federer. The winner of that match, faces this winner of this one in the semi final.

Robredo has the right idea at the start of the second set, as he looks to attack the Ferrer serve. He makes a couple of mistakes to gift Ferrer the first two points, but his aggression pays off as he forces two long balls from the fourth seed followed by a double fault, bring up his first break point of the match. Ferrer easily saves the break point with a big serve to take the game to deuce. A wide shot from Robredo gives Ferrer advantage, and he closes the game by slicing his forehand across the court.

BREAK! Robredo makes his first double fault of the match as he pushes too hard on his second serve, which has so far provided little challenge for Ferrer. A huge mis-hit gives Ferrer a chance to get a break point early in this second set, but an unfortunate strike on the net chord carries his sliced volley well wide. Ferrer gets another chance when Robredo hits his forehand long, and seals the break when another effort from his opponent fails to find the court.

Ferrer looks comfortable at the start of the game, but a couple of errors with his serve allows Robredo to find his way back into the game. Ferrer regains the lead with a brilliant shot down the sideline, but another missed first serve allows Robredo to take the game to deuce. The fourth seed plays it safe with his next two serves, and is able to hold to keep himself in a comfortable position in the second set.

It's a comfortable service game for Robredo, as he manages to find some challenging serves to test Ferrer. Robredo's real test is challenging against the Ferrer serve. He's manage to earn a couple of break points in this match, but is yet to take any of them.

Ferrer is really hitting his stride on serve, as he wins the game to love. Robredo is struggling to get his returns in, and when he does there is little he can do to stop Ferrer's forehand.

BREAK! Robredo starts the game in positive fashion, with a well-timed backhand down the line, but a wildly mis-hit serve allows Ferrer to claim the next point. A couple of wide efforts from the fourth seed leave Robredo in a strong position, but Ferrer manages to clip the baseline with a looping forehand to take the game to deuce. The pressure gets to Robredo though, as he hits the ball long on consecutive points to gift Ferrer a break, leaving him just one game from a two-set lead.

SET! Robredo 2-6 1-6 Ferrer

Ferrer looks to be in a hurry this afternoon, as he takes a two-set lead after just an hour on court. Robredo makes a good return at the start of the game, forcing Ferrer to fire the ball wide, but he could not repeat the shot, as the world number five cruised to the set win. Robredo has come from two sets down in his last three matches though, but it will have to be a big turn around here if he's to do it again.

Well if he is going to get back into this match, he's going about it the right way, racing to a 40-0 lead, before sealing the opening game with an ace. That should give him some belief as he prepares to face the Ferrer serve for the first time in the third set.

It's an equally strong start from Ferrer, as his serve continues to test Robredo's returning ability. The 32nd seed had some success against Ferrer's second serve earlier on, but the fourth seed is getting his first serve in much more now, giving his opponent little chance to attack on the return.

BREAK! The pair get involved in a lengthy rally at the start of the game, which ends when Robredo finds the net. Ferrer brings up his first break point of the set as he slices a volley past his compatriot, before sealing the game with a superbly struck drop shot. Ferrer has one foot in the semis now.

Ferrer makes a strong start the the game as he looks to consolidate his break, but a double fault halts his progress. However, Robredo fails to take advantage, as Ferrer seals the next two points to wrap up the game with a pair of stunning forehand winners.

BREAK! Robredo can't get any kind of rhythm going on his serve, not helped by his second double fault of the match. Ferrer brings up two more break points, which he seals when Robredo drags his forehand just wide.

Ferrer relentlessly pushes towards the semi-finals, playing some spectacular shots to take a 30-0 lead, but he tries a bit too hard in the third point of the game, just pushing his forehand wide. A backhand drop shot puts him back in control, before a huge mis-hit from Robredo hands him the game. Ferrer needs just one more game to wrap up the match.

David Ferrer has two match points.

GAME, SET & MATCH! Robredo 2-6 1-6 1-6 Ferrer

Ferrer needed less than an hour and a half to book his place in the semi-finals for the second year in a row. He displayed impressive pace around the court to clinch the final game and knock his compatriot out at the quarter-final stage.

Ferrer will have to wait to find out who he plays in the next round, as Tsonga continues to face Roger Federer on Chatrier. You can follow that match with Sports Mole too.

That's all from this match, but stick around for reports and reaction to today's quarter-finals, and come back tomorrow for coverage of the remaining last-eight matches in both singles competitions. Until then, thanks for joining me this afternoon, good bye.

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David Ferrer celebrates after defeating Albert Montanes during their second round match of the French Open on May 29, 2013
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