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LOS ANGELES, Aug 2: Top seed Lleyton Hewitt survived a tough start before overcoming Denmark’s Kenneth Carlsen 6-7 6-4 6-3 for a place in the semi-finals of the Mercedes-Benz Cup on Friday.
The Australian on occasions lost his temper and argued with the chair umpire before completing the win. He will meet German Nicolas Kiefer, who came from behind to beat American eighth seed Vince Spadea 1-6 7-5 6-3, in Saturday’s semi.
Hewitt’s compatriot and Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis, seeded fifth, downed fourth-seeded Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten 6-3 3-6 7-6 in their quarter-final thriller.
Philippoussis booked a meeting with seventh seed Wayne Ferreira, after the South African upset second seed Sebastien Grosjean of France 7-6 6-7 6-2 in Friday’s last quarter-final.
Results: (prefix number denotes seeding):
Quarterfinals: 5-Mark Philippoussis (Australia) beat 4-Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5); 7-Wayne Ferreira (South Africa) beat 2-Sebastien Grosjean (France) 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (4-7) 6-2; Nicolas Kiefer (Germany) beat 8-Vince Spadea (U.S.) 1-6 7-5 6-3; 1-Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) beat Kenneth Carlsen (Denmark) 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-3
REVENGE FOR AGASSI
WASHINGTON: Andre Agassi avenged last year’s defeat by James Blake at the $600,000 Washington Classic when the world number one outlasted his fellow American 3-6 7-5 6-3 on Friday to reach the semifinals.
Second seed Andy Roddick also progressed with a 6-1 6-4 win over fellow American Mardy Fish after rain had suspended play for nearly two hours.
Roddick now faces 10th seed Tim Henman of Britain, who put out third seed Paradorn Srichaphan 7-6 7-5.
Results:
Quarterfinals: Andre Agassi (USA x1) bt James Blake (USA x6) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3; Andy Roddick (USA x2) bt Mardy Fish (USA) 6-1, 6-4; Tim Henman (GBR) bt Paradorn Srichaphan (THA x3) 7-6 (7/5), 7-5; Fernando Gonzalez (CHI x4) bt Max Mirnyi (BLR x7) 7-6 (7/3), 6-2
HENIN IN SEMIS
CARLSBAD (California): French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne and fourth seed Lindsay Davenport coasted into the semifinals of the $1 million Acura Classic on Friday.
Third seed Henin-Hardenne crushed unseeded Russian Nadia Petrova 6-0 6-2 in only 55 minutes while Davenport swept past fellow American Chanda Rubin 6-3 6-3.
Henin-Hardenne now faces Svetlana Kuznetsova, who put out fellow countrywoman Elena Likhovtseva 6-2 6-3.
Results:
Quarterfinals: 2-Kim Clijsters (Belgium) beat Lisa Raymond (U.S.) 6-2 6-2; 3-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) beat Nadia Petrova (Russia) 6-0 6-2; 4-Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) beat 6-Chanda Rubin (U.S.) 6-3 6-3; Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) beat Elena Likhovtseva (Russia) 6-2 6-3.—Reuters/AFP
