The Czech second seed, who won a rain-postponed match against American Kevin Kim earlier in the day, bowed to unseeded South African Wesley Moodie 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (8/6).
Ginepri, the US Open semi-finalist who was the third seed here, failed to celebrate his 23rd birthday in winning style, losing to Bjorn Phau of Germany 6-4, 6-3. Moodie defeated Luis Horna of Peru 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (2/7), 6-4 in the morning.
Stepanek, ranked 14th in the world, said: “It was two tie-break sets with no breaks of serve. I have to say my opponent today was better on the deciding two or three points of the match.”
Fifth seed Mario Ancic of Croatia set up a semi-final meeting with Phau with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) winner over Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, who upset top seed Mariano Puerta of Argentina on Thursday.
The women’s semifinals will be an all-teenage affair pitting India’s rising star Sania Mirza, 18, against the 17-year-old Frenchwoman Tatiana Golovin and 18-year-old Russian Maria Kirilenko against 16-year-old Czech Nicole Vaidisova.
Mirza pulled off an upset victory over top seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to set up a meeting with the 17-year-old Golovin, who eliminated Japan’s last hope Ai Sugiyama, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Second seed Vaidisova, the winner at the Korea Open last weekend, outclassed Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, while fourth seed Kirilenko defeated 2002 Japan Open winner Jill Craybas 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
Results
Men’s singles(third round)
Radek Stepanek (CZE) bt Kevin Kim (USA) 6-1, 6-3; Wesley Moodie (RSA) bt Luis Horna (PER) 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (2/7), 6-4; Jarkko Nieminen (FIN ) bt Paradorn Srichaphan (THA x9) 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-5; Taylor Dent (USA ) bt Wayne Arthurs (AUS) 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3.
Quarterfinals
Bjorn Phau (GER) bt Robby Ginepri (USA) 6-4, 6-3; Mario Ancic (CRO) bt Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 6-1, 7-6 (7/4); Wesley Moodie (RSA) bt Radek Stepanek (CZE) 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (8/6).
Women’s singles (quartgerfinals)
Sania Mirza (IND) bt Vera Zvonareva (RUS ) 5-7, 6-2, 6-4; Maria Kirilenko (RUS) bt Jill Craybas (USA) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2; Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) bt Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; Tatiana Golovin (FRA) bt Ai Sugiyama (JPN x5) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Semifinal line up
Mirza vs Golovin, Vaidisova vs Kirilenko
Women’s doubles semifinals
Shinobu Asagoe/Maria Vento-Kabchi (JPN/VEN) bt Stephanie Foretz/Henrieta Nagyova (FRA/SVK) 6-4, 6-4
Gisela Dulko/Maria Kirilenko (ARG/RUS) bt Sania Mirza/Shahar Peer (IND/ISR) 6-1, 6-4.
FILDERSTADT,(Germany): Daniela Hantuchova, whose career nearly fell apart amidst the loss of weight and confidence, continued her encouraging return to form on Friday by booking a meeting with top-seeded defending champion Lindsay Davenport for a place in the final here.
The 22-year-old Slovakian’s new-found stability was again in evidence as she won a battle of the seed-beaters by 6-4, 6-3 against Flavia Pennetta of Italy to reach her fourth semifinal of the year at the 650,000-dollar Grand Prix.
Davenport came through with a display of thunderous final set hitting to win 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 against Anastasia Myskina, the 2004 French Open champion.—AFP