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Top seed David Nalbandian secured his place in the quarterfinals at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel for the first time in three event appearances with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3 win over Spaniard Santiago Ventura on Wednesday in Acapulco. Meanwhile, four other seeds - No. 2 Carlos Moya, No. 3 Juan Monaco, No. 4 Guillermo Canas and No. 5 Juan Ignacio Chela - fell in second round action.

The 26-year-old Nalbandian, who moved back into the Top 10 at No. 8 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings this week after clinching his eighth career ATP title on Sunday in Buenos Aires, picked up his eighth straight win and his 10th of the year (10-1). His only loss this season came against Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in the third round of the Australian Open.

Nalbandian will next confront eighth-seeded Italian Potito Starace in the quarterfinals for the second straight week. Starace, who lost to Nalbandian in three sets in Buenos Aires, notched a 6-3, 6-3 win over Australian Peter Luczak on Wednesday.

Chilean Nicolas Massu took responsibility for ousting Moya, handing the two-time Acapulco champion the 6-4, 6-2 loss in one hour and 39 minutes. The World No. 96 next faces Spaniard Nicolas Almagro (pictured), the No. 6 seed, who advanced to an ATP quarterfinal for the third consecutive week as he defeated Italian Filippo Volandri 6-3, 6-3.

Almagro won his third career ATP title two weeks ago in Costa do Sauipe and took his winning streak to a career-best nine matches before retiring in the Buenos Aires quarterfinals last week with a groin injury.

Last week's Buenos Aires runner-up Jose Acasuso also continued his recent success as he upset Canas, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. He saved 15 of the 17 break point chances earned by Canas, while converting on five of his 10 opportunities to notch his first career win over his compatriot.

Acasuso, who also reached the quarterfinals earlier this month in Vina del Mar, next faces Spanish qualifier Marcel Granollers-Pujol. The 21-year-old advanced to his second career ATP quarterfinal with a 6-2, 7-6(6) win over Albert Montanes.

Peruvian Luis Horna and Argentine Agustin Calleri each posted upsets on Wednesday to set up their fourth head-to-head encounter this season. Horna defeated Monaco 7-6(4), 6-3, and Calleri dismissed defending champion Chela, 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-1.

Horna, the 2006 Acapulco winner, moves through to the quarterfinals for the first time this season, while 2003 titlist Calleri advances to his fourth. The two players captured their first doubles together last week in Buenos Aires, and are teaming up again this week.

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Tuesday: Canas Wins Season Debut in Strong Day for Argentines
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