Spadea, Ancic Into Semifinals at Delray Beach

Posted on September 18, 2004

There were a lot of "firsts" Friday at the ATP stop in Delray Beach, with more to come.

Top-seeded Vince Spadea (d. (Q) Armando in three) reached his first Delray Beach semifinal in seven attempts.

"He was playing pretty loose in the second set," said Spadea on the three-set win. "I had a slow start and I got down a break. I didn't keep up my high level from the first set. I didn't play that aggressive. I was playing somewhat tentative in the second set...This tournament's always meant a little more to me. I've just never had the results I've wanted to here. I'm just trying to focus on using the energy I have close to home, and keep the momentum going."

For No. 3 seed Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic (d. Carlsen), it is keeping alive the possibility of winning a career-first title. Ancic is the highest-ranked player on the ATP without a title.

For unseeded 30-year-old American Jeff Salzenstein (d. Rusedski) and unseeded Brazilian Ricardo Mello "Yello" (d. Golmard in three) it was reaching their career-first ATP semifinals.

"This is a very good moment in my career as a player," said Mello Yello. "In the US Open, I got through qualifying and into the third round, and then into the Top 100. I'm taking advantage of this moment and it's increasing my confidence."

Salzenstein pounded out 14 aces to the Briton's eight, and in journeyman fashion afterwards attributed his win to luck.

Saturday's semifinal meetings are (3) Ancic vs. Mello (first meeting) and (1) Spadea vs. Salzenstein (Spadea leads career meetings 1-0, winning earlier this year on the grass at Newport in three sets).