Vienna - Spain's Feliciano Lopez reached the quarter-finals at the scene of his only career title performance Thursday, putting out irritable Austrian Daniel Koellerer 6-3, 6-3 at the Bank Austria Trophy.

Sixth seed Lopez tasted his only trophy success at the Stadthalle in 2004 when he beat Guillermo Canas for the trophy.

Lopez, 28, has reached his sixth quarter-final in as many appearance in Vienna, standing 16-4 at the event.

This season has been one to forget for the 45th-ranked Spaniard, who only began turning his luck after 10 first-round losses as he reached the Shanghai semi-finals a fortnight ago against Rafael Nadal.

But that sweet moment was lost as he had to quit with ankle problems at the best Masters 1000 showing of his career.

Lopez will line up in Friday's quarter-finals against top seed Marin Cilic after the Croatian stopped German Daniel Brands 7-6 (9-7), 6-4.

Cilic leads a trio of seeds this week who are all chasing the final two places in the eight-man year-end event set for London from November 22.

Cilic, losing finalist against Novak Djokovic in Beijing this month, stands provisional 12th in the points race with this week and another two remaining in the ATP season.

Vienna second seed Radek Stepanek is 14th while third seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils stand 16th.

Lopez, now 16-21 this season, benefited from a trademark temper tantrum from "Crazy Dani," with the Austrian smashing a racket on a net post after losing the opening set.

He then received strappings on both knees but went down a break in the second set before getting it back a game later for 1-2. But Lopez prevailed after 1 hour, 21 minutes with six aces and four breaks of serve. (dpa)