Ancic, Nieminen Headline ATP Tokyo Semifinals

No. 7 seed Jarkko Nieminen (d. (9) Srichaphan, saving eight match points, then (4) Dent, both 7-6 in the third) and unseeded South African Weslie Moodie “Blues” (d. (11) Horna in three, then (2) Stepanek in two tiebreaks) braved the rain-backed-up schedule Friday at the ATP stop in Tokyo, winning two matches to advance into the semifinals.

"It's too bad to lose the match like this," said Srichaphan, whose eight match points were all in the second set against Nieminen. "I was up all the way, up a set and a break, and had eight match points. Suddenly my opponent was playing well at that point. He was playing hard. He was playing better than me at the end."

Stepanek (d. K.Kim) and Dent (d. Arthurs in three) had also won third-round matches before their quarterfinal losses.

Also into the semis were (5) Mario Ancic (d. Baghdatis), and unseeded German Bjorn Phau (d. (3) Ginepri). Phau delivered five aces and converted on all four of his break opportunities in the straight-set win over Ginepri, advancing to his career-first ATP semifinal.

"I didn't expect to win this match because Robby's played well the past few months," Phau said. "I've wanted to go out and fight all week, that's what I've done."

Saturday's match-ups are (5) Ancic vs. Phau, and (7) Nieminen vs. Moodie.