Calleri Ousts Defending Champion Gaudio at Kitzbuhel

Fifth-seeded Fernando Verdasco will meet No. 9 seed Agustin Calleri in the semifinals of the Kitzbuehel Open on Saturday.

Calleri reached his third clay-court ATP semifinal (Buenos Aires, Bastad) of the season by knocking out defending champion and 2004 runner-up Gaston Gaudio 7-5, 6-0 in 73 minutes.

Gaudio won just eight points in a 26-minute second set, with Calleri winning a total of 25 of 28 points on first serve in their fourth career meeting.

Last year's runner-up Verdasco beat 2001 champion Nicolas Lapentti 6-4, 6-4 in a rain-interrupted encounter for a second ATP semifinal berth this season (Valencia -- l. to Simon).

In the bottom half of the 48-man draw, Austrian No. 1 Jurgen Melzer could not extend his career winning streak over Mikhail Youzhny to three matches.

Eighth-seeded Youzhny improved his 2006 ATP season record to 16-15, reaching his second semifinal (Dubai -- l. to Federer) with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win in one hour and 50 minutes.

The 24-year-old will play this season Acapulco finalist and No. 7 seed Juan Ignacio Chela on Saturday. Chela broke No. 13 seed Philipp Kohlschreiber on four of six opportunities, winning 6-4, 6-4 in 77 minutes.
-- ATP