Nadal and Errani into Acapulco Semis

Rafael Nadal is a match away from a possible final showdown with David Ferrer in Acapulco. Sara Errani advanced into the semis as well on the women's side.

By Erik Gudris

(February 28th, 2013) -- An all-Spanish final could be on the cards as three of that country's top players are all into the semifinals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel event in Acapulco.

Rafael Nadal continued his quest for a second title in Acapulco as his dismissed Argentina's Leonardo Mayer 6-1, 7-5 in an hour and 41 minutes. Next up for Nadal will be fellow countryman Nicolas Almagro who beat Horacio Zeballos, the Vina Del Mar champion, 6-3, 6-4.

Three-time defending champion David Ferrer went down an early break in his quarterfinal against Italy's Pablo Lorenzi. But Ferrer recovered and then proceeded to an easy 6-3, 6-1 win.

Ferrer will next face another Italian in Fabio Fognini who won over Santiago Giraldo 7-5, 6-4. This is the first semifinal of the season for Fognini.

On the women's side, top seed and defending champion Sara Errani advanced into the semis with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Kiki Bertens. Errani will next face Alize Cornet who saved nine match points en route to beating Lourdes Dominguez Lino 3-6, 7-6(10), 7-6(2).

Errani's fellow Italian Francesca Schiavone wasn't as fortunate as she lost a marathon three hour grind against Spain's Carla Suarez-Navarro 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2. Navarro will now take on fellow Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa who beat Karin Knapp 6-2, 6-2.

Venus Reaches Brazil Tennis Cup Semis

In Florianopolis at the Brazil Tennis Cup, top seed Venus Williams once again got off to a slow start. This time it was against No. 5 seed Magdalena Rybarikova who went up an early break to begin their quarterfinal match.

Williams fought off going down a double break and eventually pulled ahead for 5-4. Williams then took advantage of her first set point to clinch the set 6-4.

Despite appearing to deal with a mild back strain, Williams picked up the pace in the second set. The former World No. 1 didn't lose another game as she raced away with a 6-4, 6-0 win.

Williams next faces Olga Puchkova in the semis after the Russian dismissed Jana Cepelova 6-1, 6-1. The other semi features Romania's Monica Niculescu against France's Kristina Mladenovic.

(Photo Credit: AP/Palma)