Montanes, Starace into Casablanca quarterfinals

Albert Montanes and Potito Starace won in straight sets on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Grand Prix Hassan II.

The top-seeded Montanes defeated Filippo Volandri 6-1, 6-4, and the fifth-seeded Starace beat Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-4, 6-3.

Montanes won six straight games to take the first set and go up 1-0 in the second. Volandri fought back to lead 4-2 but then dropped serve twice.

Montanes converted the first of three match points when a service return from Volandri sailed long.

The Spaniard will play Blaz Kavcic or Fabio Fognini.

Starace broke decisively break in the seventh game of each set, clinching victory on a forehand error from Hidalgo.

The Italian will face Gilles Simon or Frederico Gil.