Football
Associated Press 19y

Puerta through to semis of home tournament

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Mariano Puerta stunned top-seeded
Carlos Moya in straight sets Friday, setting up an all-Argentine
semifinal matchup in the country's only major ATP tournament.

On Saturday, Puerta will meet compatriot Jose Acasuso, who beat
Nicolas Almagro of Spain 6-3, 6-4.

Hitting relentless forehands with his unique left-handed drive
from the baseline, unseeded Puerta beat Moya, the former tournament
champion, 7-6 (0), 6-3.

"I can't even believe it," an astonished and profusely
sweating Puerta said after beating a player ranked 111 spots
higher. "I went out and played my all."

The victory on the clay surface at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis
Club was the first for Puerta in three career matches against the
2003 tournament champion. Moya, ranked sixth in the world, lost the
championship match last year to Argentine Guillermo Coria.

But Moya looked sluggish and acknowledged he was tired,
frequently sending up floaters that were easy prey for smashes by
Puerta.

"He deserved to win. The match was very easy for him," Moya
said. "His style of play didn't surprise me, but what did surprise
me was how badly I played."

Moya had nine unforced errors in the first set to three for
Puerta, setting the stage for an early defeat.

Second-seeded Gaston Gaudio defeated No. 7 Rafael Nadal of Spain
0-6, 6-0, 6-1, and will face Spaniard Alberto Martin in other
semifinal of the $380,000 tournament. Martin advanced by defeating
compatriot Felix Mantilla 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

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