Thu Jan 31 18:55:34 2008

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Berlocq ousts reigning champ Horna, moves into Movistar quarters

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Vina del Mar, Chile (Sports Network) - Carlos Berlocq defeated defending champion Luis Horna to reach the quarterfinals at the $462,000 Movistar Open, the ATP's first clay-court event of 2008.

Horna beat Nicolas Massu in 2007 in straight sets. But the Argentine Berlocq turned the tables on Thursday, defeating the Peruvian Horna, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 7-6 (7-3).

Earlier Thursday, Spain's Santiago Ventura outlasted Sergio Roitman of Argentina 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), and Italian Fabio Fognini downed Spain's David Marrero 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3. Ventura and Fognini will square off in the quarterfinals.

Later Thursday, top-seeded Chilean crowd favorite Fernando Gonzalez will battle Argentine Diego Hartfield for a spot in the quarters against Berlocq. The two-time champion Gonzalez titled here in 2002 and 2004 and was the runner-up in 2005.

The 2008 Movistar Open champion will collect $73,500.