Soderling, Bjorkman Making Swede Runs in Memphis

Up first on Stadium is the first of the men’s singles semifinals between Belgian Steve Darcis and Swede Jonas Bjorkman; it is the first meeting between the pair. Darcis, who is making his debut in Memphis, has defeated Vince Spadea, No. 7 seed Jurgen Melzer and Benjamin Becker to reach his first ATP singles semifinal since Amersfoot last year, where he went on to claim his maiden ATP singles title (d. Eschauer). Coming into Memphis, World No. 81 Darcis had won just two ATP-level matches this year, having lost first round in three of four ATP main draws played; he reached the second round in Sydney (l. to Santoro) and won against Lukas Dlouhy in Belgium’s Davis Cup clash against the Czech Republic.

The 35-year-old Bjorkman is through to the semifinals in Memphis for the second time in five attempts, having reached the last four on his debut in 1997 (l. to Woodbridge). The World No. 85, former No. 4 (3-Nov-97), is contesting his first ATP-level singles semifinal since Nottingham last year (l. to Clement); since then the Swede had gone 6-9 in ATP singles play prior to this week. He has defeated Paul Capdeville, No. 5 seed Sam Querrey and Donald Young to advance to the semifinals.

Third out on Stadium, not before 3pm, is the second semifinal featuring eighth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling and fourth-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek. Soderling leads their head-to-head series 2-1, although Stepanek won their most recent encounter in 2006 ATP Masters Hamburg. In Friday’s quarterfinals Soderling defeated top seed and last year’s finalist Andy Roddick in straight sets, having defeated Frederic Niemeyer and Victor Hanescu earlier in the week. The 23-year-old Swede is now through to his second ATP singles semifinal of the season, having last week made the final in Rotterdam, where he lost in a third set tie-break to Michael Llodra. The World No. 42 is bidding to appear in his second final in Memphis, having made the title match (l. to Haas) on his debut here two years ago.

World No. 31 Stepanek is bidding to reach his second ATP singles final in as many weeks, having finished runner-up to Andy Roddick in his seventh career final last week in San Jose. The 29-year-old Czech is contesting his third ATP singles semifinal of the season, having also reached the last four in Sydney at the start of the year (l. to Guccione). Making his debut in Memphis, Stepanek has defeated Jesse Levine, Florent Serra and Chris Guccione this week. (ATP Digital Services)