Federer Pulls from Masters Series-Rome; Belgian Meeting Looming at Warsaw

It was the first semifinal for Haas in Munich since 2000, with the German striving to become the first homecountry winner since Michael Stich 11 years ago.

Also into the semis were No. 5 seed Andrei Pavel (d. Sluiter in three) and Finnish qualifier Jarkko Nieminen (d. (Q) Mertinak from a set down).

Saturday's semifinal match-ups are (4) Haas vs. (5) Pavel (Haas leads head-to-head 4-3, and 3-1 on clay), and (1) Nalbandian vs. (Q) Nieminen (tied 3-3, with the Fin winning both meetings last year).

Moya, Gaudio Into Semis at ATP Estoril

Roland Garros champs Carlos Moya (d. Mathieu) and Gaston Gaudio (d. (8) Lopez) came one step closer to a championship meeting with wins Friday at the ATP claycourt stop in Estoril.

"(Mathieu is) a player who has given me a lot of trouble in the past," Moya said. "He defeated me in the Davis Cup, but today I came into the match with a lot more confidence than when we played in Davis Cup. The fact that I defeated (Felix) Mantilla and (Juan Carlos) Ferrero this week gave me a lot of confidence and I was in a winning frame of mind."

Another two Spaniards made three of the four semifinalists from Spain in No. 4 seed Tommy Robredo (d. Sanguinetti) and unseeded Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (d. (LL) Marin in three).

"(Marin) fought for every ball and ran down everything, so it was a very intense match," said Garcia-Lopez, who advanced to his second semifinal of the year. "I played well in the first set but then things got a little bit tricky. In the third set, I calmed down and I was able to win."

Saturday's semis in Estoril will be (1) Moya vs. (4) Robredo (Moya leads career meetings 4-0), and Guillermo "G-Lo" Garcia-Lopez vs. (2) Gaudio (first meeting).

Clijsters, Henin Win, One Step From Meeting at WTA Warsaw

No. 7-seeded Kim Clijsters overcame a sore shoulder to upset No. 5 seed Elena Bovina in straight sets to come one step closer to an all-Belgian final versus Justine Henin-Hardenne at the WTA stop in Warsaw.

"I definitely didn't serve well," said Clijsters, who failed to serve out the first set twice, then appeared at her post-match conference with an ice pack on her shoulder. "My serve was too inconsistent today, and especially on the second serve she likes to step in and she put me under a lot of pressure on my serve."

The unseeded Henin-Hardenne did her part Friday, rolling over No. 4 seed Patty Schnyder, giving up only three games.

Also into the semis were (2) Svetlana Kuznetsova (d. (8) Farina Elia), and unseeded Serb Ana Ivanovic (d. (6) Dechy).

"The whole match was very close and we both had our chances in the first set," Ivanovic said. "After winning that set it was easier for me. I tried in the second set to move a little bit better so I could get more into the court, and I think that was the key today."
 
On tap for the Saturday semifinals are Clijsters vs. Kuznetsova (Clijsters leads career series 3-0), and Ivanovic vs. Henin-Hardenne (first meeting).

Safina, Dulko Top Seeds Remaining in WTA Estoril Semifinals

No. 2 seed Dinara Safina (d. Craybas) and Chinese No. 4 seed Na Li (d. (6) Randiantefy) led the favorites into the semifinals Friday at the WTA stop in Estoril.

Safina is shooting for her second title of the year after winning the Paris Indoors in February.

"I started the match so badly, I was in a rush," Safina said. "I wanted to finish the points so quickly and I was missing the second ball every time. But I settled down and got through."

Safina will now take on Li in the semifinals.

"It will be a tough match tomorrow," Safina said. "The Chinese players are improving every tournament, and it's getting more and more tough to play against them."

Also into the semis were (3) Gisela Dulko (d. (9) Zheng) and 18-year-old Czech qualifier Lucie Safarova, who won her fourth consecutive three-set match (including qualifying) 6-1 in the third over Argentine Mariana Diaz-Oliva.

Saturday's Estoril line-up is Li vs. Safina, and Safarova vs. Dulko.

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