Seeded players Gilles Simon of France, Spain’s Fernando Verdasco and local favourite Juan Monaco were knocked out on Thursday in the second round of the Copa Claro claycourt tennis tournament in Argentina.

Carlos Berlocq of Argentina beat third-seeded Simon 6-2 6-1 and Russia’s Igor Andreev downed No.7 Verdasco 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

Argentine David Nalbandian defeated No.5 Monaco 6-3 6-1.

One more seeded player was scheduled to be in action later on Thursday with No.2 Nicolas Almagro of Spain up against Federico Delbonis, another Argentine.

Nobody was better on clay on Thursday than the former Wimbledon finalist Nalbandian, who made few errors.

“I played a great match with lots of intensity from the start,” Nalbandian said.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think Juan (Monaco) had his best day. This is a tournament that all Argentines like to play.”

Nalbandian will face fellow Argentine Berlocq in Friday’s quarter-finals.

In other quarter-final matchups, it will be top-seeded David Ferrer of Spain against Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, and No.4 Kei Nishikori of Japan facing Swiss No.6 Stanislas Wawrinka.

Andreev will face Almagro or Delbonis.