BEIJING, Sept 15: Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez will face big-serving Ivan Ljubicic in the semi-finals at the China Open after the Croatian stunned titleholder Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) on Friday.
The fourth-seeded Ljubicic, ranked 12th in the world, beat 2006 Australian Open finalist Baghdatis for the first time in four attempts, including a loss at Zagreb earlier this year.
Ljubicic took a 3-0 lead in the decisive third-set tiebreaker, only to quickly find himself level with the Cypriot at 3-all.
The 28-year-old Croatian – who has won twice this year, in Doha and s-Hertogenbosch – then dug deep, with Baghdatis saving two match points before going out on the third.
Gonzalez, the second seed, survived a tough challenge from South Korea’s Lee Hyung-taik – and some wet weather.
The 27-year-old Gonzalez, who defeated Lee 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, has come alive this week in China, after a dismal summer hard court season marked by four consecutive first-round defeats after Wimbledon.
Gonzalez jumped ahead 5-0 in less than 20 minutes before Lee levelled at five apiece before the skies opened. When they resumed, the Chilean claimed the first set 7-5 and was leading 3-0 in the second when the skies opened again.
Lee, who was Asia’s last hope in the tournament, grabbed the momentum, pushing the match into a third and final set, but Gonzalez’s experience proved too much for him.
The world number seven fired eight aces and broke Lee’s serve four times during the match.
Ljubicic has a 4-3 record against Gonzalez going into semis’ showdown.
Spanish third seed Tommy Robredo reached his fourth semi-final of the season and second on hardcourt, beating Russian number eight Igor Kynitsyn 6-3, 6-1.
Friday’s results:
Quarter-finals:
Fernando Gonzalez (CHI x2) bt Lee Hyung-taik (KOR x6) 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4; Ivan Ljubicic (CRO x4) bt Marcos Baghdatis (CYP x5) 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5); Tommy Robredo (ESP x3) bt Igor Kynitsyn (RUS x8) 6-3, 6-1; Nicolas Kiefer (GER) bt Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-3, 7-5.
DAVENPORT REACHES SEMI-finals
NUSA DUA (Indonesia): Lindsay Davenport held her nerve for victory as Jelena Jankovic launched an emotion-charged attack on the umpire to crash out 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 at the Bali International on Friday.
Davenport stayed quiet in the seventh game of the final set as world number three Jankovic imploded with anger in their quarter-final.
Friday’s results:
Quarter-finals:
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK x2) bt Ayumi Morita (JPN) 6-2, 6-1; Lindsay Davenport (US) bt Jelena Jankovic (SRB x1) 6-4, 2-6, 6-2; Sara Errani (ITA) bt Aiko Nakamura (JPN) 6-1, 6-2; Sorana Cirstea (ROM) bt Edina Gallovits (ROM) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).
—AFP