Acasuso, Cast of Odd-Balls Into ATP Hamburg Semis

Argentine Jose Acasuso continued his hot streak Friday at the Masters Series-Hamburg, despite some second-set nerves, defeating Spaniard Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-3 to gain his career-first Masters Series semifinal.

"I have been playing well since the beginning of the year," said Acasuso, who won his first title of the year February on clay at Vina del Mar. "In my two previous Masters on clay, in Monte Carlo and Rome, I lost in the second round but I had chances in both matches. So I knew that a week like this would come around for me. But obviously I want to take advantage of this moment because I don't want to stop here."

No. 12 seed Mario Ancic orchestrated another magical comeback similar to his win earlier in the week over James Blake, coming from a set and a break down after No. 4 seed Nikolay Davydenko visibly tightened up for a 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3 win.

"A win is a win," Ancic said. "It doesn't matter how it comes. Though it would be nice to get off the court a bit faster. But these are Top 10 guys and you have to expect hard matches if you are going to come out the winner."

Davydenko afterwards confirmed the choke.

"I'm shocked I lost this match," Davydenko said. "I lost concentration in the second set and he broke back. He was fighting and fighting. I lost confidence after the tiebreak. In my head I was a bit crazy. Sometimes he was hitting balls and I didn't know how."

Also into the semifinals were No. 15 seed Radek Stepanek who dispatched of the serve-and-volleying Max "The Beast" Mirnyi 7-6(5), 6-1, and No. 8 seed Tommy Robredo who beat his choking Spanish countryman David Ferrer, seeded No. 16, 7-6(8), 6-4.

Ferrer led 6-1 in the first-set tiebreak before blowing seven set points to drop the set.

Saturday's match-ups are Acasuso vs. (15) Stepanek, (8) Robredo vs. (12) Ancic, (1) the Bryan brothers vs. (3) Knowles/Nestor, and (4) Hanley/Ullyett vs. (5) Santoro/Zimonjic.