ROME, May 7: Argentine fifth seed David Nalbandian, the highest seed left at the Rome Masters, beat Vincent Spadea 6-4, 6-3 on Friday to set up a sem-final clash against Albert Costa.

Nalbandian, a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open, took the first set but then found himself 3-0 down and with three break points against him in the second as the 29-year-old American hit back.

Spadea's recovery triggered a positive response from Nalbandian and the 2002 Wimbledon runner-up won the next six games in a row to close out his quarterfinal in style.

Clay court specialist Costa, winner of the French Open in 2002 but unseeded here, knocked out Czech 12th seed Jiri Novak in just 72 minutes. Costa played down suggestions he was now the favourite having beaten world number one Roger Federer in the second round and played solid tennis all week on his preferred surface.

Costa said he was hoping to win in the Italian capital to make up for his disappointment here in 1998 when he reached the final but could not play against Chilean Marcelo Rios because of a wrist injury.

Earlier on Friday, Spanish sixth seed Carlos Moya booked his place in quarterfinals after taming big-serving Ivo Karlovic in his delayed third round match. Ranked number five in the world, Moya was on the receiving end of 13 aces but held off a spirited challenge from the 25-year-old Croatian to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Moya, 27, will play Andrei Pavel in the last eight after the Romanian beat Spaniard David Sanchez 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5).

Results: