I am happy with my tennis: Giraldo

Colombian defeats second seed Robredo 6-3, 6-4 in US event

HOUSTON: Colombia's Santiago Giraldo was content with his performance as he sent second-seeded Tommy Robredo packing, while two other seeded Spaniards made it safely into the quarter-finals of the US Men's Clay Court Championship.

"I played really good tennis today," said Giraldo. "I am happy with my tennis. I played very aggressively."

The Colombian saved all four break points he faced en route to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Robredo, who was making his Houston debut.

"I had a lot of chances in a lot of games,” said Robredo. “Every time it was 0-30, 15-30, I was hitting three in a row straight to the fence. With this, there's no chance to win."

However, it was a different story for third-seeded Spaniard Nicolas Almagro as he cruised past American Michael Russell 6-2, 6-3. He next faces 21-year-old American Jack Sock, a 6-4, 6-3 winner over Germany's Benjamin Becker.

I was prepared mentally: Verdasco

Number four seed Fernando Verdasco felt he was well prepared for the clay despite it being the first match on this surface this season, after he defeated American Steve Johnson 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.

"This is my first match on clay this season," Verdasco said. "I've been just trying to get the rhythm and feel the ball as much as I can. Even when I wasn't playing that well, mentally I was well."

Verdasco dropped serve just once and converted four of his five break chances against Johnson, who arrived in Houston at a career-high 69th in the world after winning the Le Gosier Challenger last week.