Gonzalez reaches BMW Open quarters

Fernando Gonzalez survived a difficult day for seeded players at the BMW Open.

The second-seeded Chilean reached the quarterfinals of the red clay event Thursday when he rallied from a set down to top unseeded Belgian Kristof Vliegen, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Gonzalez was the only seeded player to advance, as both No. 4 Igor Andreev of Russia and seventh-seeded Belgian Steve Darcis were bounced from the tournament.

Vliegen had great chance to send Gonzalez home as well, but failed to close things out when serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set.

The loss by Darcis was the biggest shock, as 36-year-old Moroccan qualifier Younes El Aynaoui pulled off a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 upset.

A former world No. 14 now ranked 295th, El Aynaoui had not reached an ATP quarterfinal since October 2003.

El Aynaoui’s opponent in the round of eight is unseeded Juan Martin Del Potro, who topped Andreev, 1-6, 6-0, 6-4. The 19-year-old Argentine, who has never played in an ATP championship, is through to his first quarterfinal since June.

Russian wild card Marat Safin claimed a 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 win over Michael Berrer to set up a quarterfinal clash with Gonzalez. Berrer was Germany’s last hope to claim the title on home soil.

The 28-year-old Safin, a two-time Grand Slam champion, is attempting to win his first ATP event since taking the Australian Open in January 2005.

The top seed here is Paul-Henri Mathieu of France, who advanced to the quarterfinals on the other side of the draw Wednesday.

First prize is $92,300.