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| March 5, 2006 | Sunday | Safar 4, 1427 |
Hewitt reaches semifinals
LAS VEGAS (Nevada), March 4: Lleyton Hewitt shrugged off blustery conditions to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-0 on Friday and reach the semifinals of this 380,000-dollar ATP tournament.
In the chilly, gusting winds, spectators in the normally warm desert huddled in coats and gloves to watch the top-seeded Australian dispatch the German in 59 minutes.
“There were tough conditions but it was the same for both players, so there’s no point in getting negative over it,” said Hewitt, who had to wait out a 66-minute rain delay before rallying past German Florian Mayer on Monday night. “We know it’s not enjoyable for the crowd but the show must go on.”
Hewitt broke Kohlschreiber’s serve six of seven times to gain a measure of revenge after losing a three-setter in Adelaide in January.
Seeking his first ATP Tour title since winning at Sydney last year, the former world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion will face unseeded American Paul Goldstein in the semi-finals.
Goldstein advanced when Xavier Malisse of Belgium retired with a left Achilles’ strain in the second set. Goldstein was leading the match, 6-3, 2-0 at the time.
“It will be a tough match,” Hewitt said. “Goldstein has won some good matches this week, beating (Robby) Ginepri and (Vince) Spadea. He’s going to run a lot of balls down, and you’ve really got to go out there and beat him.”
Big serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic ousted third-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
Karlovic advanced to his first ATP semi-final since last June, when he reached the final at the Queen’s Club before losing to American Andy Roddick.
He’ll face fifth-seeded American James Blake, who downed Denmark’s Kenneth Carlsen 6-4, 6-4.
Quarterfinals results: Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-2, 6-0; Ivo Karlovic (CRO) bt Tommy Robredo (ESP 7-6 (7/4), 6-4; Paul Goldstein (USA) bt Xavier Malisse (BEL) 6-3, 2-0 ret James Blake (USA) bt Kenneth Carlsen (DEN) 6-4, 6-4
ATP tennis results
ACAPULCO: Results on Friday night in the Acapulco tennis tournament:
Men’s singles semifinals: Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) bt Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 6-2, 6-2; Luis Horna (PER) bt Gaston Gaudio (ARG) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.—Agencies
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